September Secret may target Soviet Problem next

There was quite a commotion in the bar area of a Lexington, Ky., restaurant Friday evening. California trainer Peter Miller was with a group of friends watching September Secret rally from fourth in the final furlong to record a head win in the $151,500 Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar.

“We were hooting and hollering,” Miller said. “We disturbed a few of the patrons.”

It was worth shouting about. September Secret won the race for 2-year-old California-bred fillies thanks to a crafty ride from jockey Ricardo Gonzalez.

September Secret was on the inside with a furlong remaining, racing behind three horses vying for the lead. Gonzalez moved September Secret to the outside of those runners to reach the front just in time.

A day later, Miller won the $151,500 Golden State Juvenile with the colt Good With People, who led throughout the seven-furlong race. Miller watched that race in a private jet while traveling from Kentucky to Southern California.

The two runners will have a chance for another stakes win in $100,000 California-bred races at a mile at Los Alamitos in December. Miller said September Secret may start in the Soviet Problem Stakes on Dec. 12, while Good With People is possible for the King Glorious Stakes on Dec. 20.

“We’ll look at those races with both horses,” Miller said.

September Secret started in the longest race of her six-race career in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies. Her previous wins were at 5 1/2 and six furlongs.

Good With People, owned by breeders Kirk and Judy Robison, has won two sprint stakes for statebreds. The Golden State Juvenile at seven furlongs was his longest race. Good With People led by three lengths with a furlong remaining, and won by three-quarters of a length over Positivity.

The King Glorious distance could be a test of stamina.

“There is a concern until they do it,” Miller said. “We have to go give it a try.

“He’s a nice colt and very fast. The question will be how he can carry the speed.”

Miller had three runners in Breeders’ Cup races at Keeneland on Friday and Saturday, with a second by C Z Rocket in Saturday’s Sprint his best result. C Z Rocket finished 3 1/4 lengths behind Whitmore after a wide trip.

“We felt he could have won with a better trip,” Miller said.

Miller said C Z Rocket will not race again until 2021.