LOS ALAMITOS : Dicey Secret Might Prove Difficult to Beat in Derby

Recent stakes winner Dicey Secret had the fastest qualifying time for the Los Alamitos Derby and will face her biggest test in the $150,000 final Friday night.

Dicey Secret has taken owner Cathy Monji on a roller-coaster ride. As a 2-year-old, the filly qualified for three major stakes, setting the top qualifying time in two of those. But she was third in the California Sires Cup Futurity and second in the Governor’s Cup and Miss Kindergarten futurities.

Trained by Danny Mitchell, Dicey Secret finally earned her first stakes victory in the California Sires Cup Derby earlier this year, after qualifying third.

Now Dicey Secret is back in the top qualifying spot, and her connections hope that this time it won’t be a jinx. Judging from her trial performance, she’ll be hard to beat.

On July 21, Dicey Secret defeated one of the toughest 3-year-olds in the nation, Ah Sigh, in the third of three trials for the Los Alamitos Derby. Ah Sigh had won her last six starts, including the La Primera Del Ano Derby, and 10 of 11 races.

With Joe Badilla Jr. in the saddle, Dicey Secret trailed Ah Sigh for most of the 400-yard race before taking the lead in the final strides to win by a nose in 19.90 seconds.

“I didn’t expect it and I didn’t realize it was that close,” Monji said of Dicey Secret’s victory. “I was just hoping to qualify.”

With only 0.01 seconds separating their qualifying times, Dicey Secret and Ah Sigh will meet again in Friday’s Grade I finale. If Dicey Secret can duplicate her trial showing, she would move into strong contention for champion 3-year-old filly honors.

“We’re very, very excited about this,” Monji said. “For [Dicey Secret], it’s probably the biggest race of her life. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

Dicey Secret and Ah Sigh will face eight other top 3-year-olds: Check This Reb, Gliding Bunny, Never Lies, Blushing By, Joes Tol, Proudest Daydream, Pick Sixer and Marys Moo Vin First.

Los Alamitos Notes

The California Horse Racing Board approved the dates of Oct. 14-Dec. 10 for a harness meeting at Sacramento. However, Capitol Racing Assn., which requested the dates, decided to postpone its license application until next month. Capitol Racing Assn. requesting two days of live racing, Saturday and Sunday, as well as full-card simulcasting on Fridays. This would be the first fall harness meeting at Sacramento.