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Post by racinggal on Jul 31, 2015 20:33:20 GMT -5
This is exciting! I guess Jess's Dream might start at The Spa but they seem much higher on this filly!
Rachel's Valentina to Debut Aug. 2 at Spa Blood Horse
Rachel's Valentina, the 2-year-old daughter of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and 2006 3-year-old champion male Bernardini , will make the first start of her career Aug. 2 in the second race at Saratoga Race Course.
Owned and bred by Stonestreet Stables, which campaigned Rachel Alexandra to victories in the 2009 Preakness, Kentucky Oaks, Mother Goose, Haskell, and Woodward (all gr. I) before her retirement from racing in 2010, Rachel's Valentina has been installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite in the six-furlong maiden special weight for juvenile fillies.
"She's trained very well and she's as ready as we can have her," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "This one's six furlongs and the next one (in the condition book) is 5 1/2 (furlongs) and I preferred the six. She's not super quick away from the gate, (so) it's probably not her ideal distance, but it's a good starting point to build on."
Rachel Alexandra's first foal, 3-year-old Jess's Dream, by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin , has yet to make his highly anticipated first start for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The colt logged a half-mile breeze July 25 at Saratoga, going the distance in :48.58 to rank 25th among 109 timed moves at the distance.
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Post by mackdaddy on Aug 1, 2015 6:58:49 GMT -5
Will give her 5 races and Pletcher will run the horse into the ground. From a fans perspective, it's exciting to anticipate the debut but let's be honest, Banke could do better than putting the horse in his hands. Gimme Shug or Mott anyday. At least their horses can actually run past 3 years old. I wish this filly all the luck
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Post by mackdaddy on Aug 2, 2015 12:46:26 GMT -5
Nice debut win
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Post by racinggal on Aug 2, 2015 13:08:10 GMT -5
She was so impressive. Terrible start but she just went by them all! Evelyn and I were yelling at the TV!
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cait
Active Member
Posts: 3,821
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Post by cait on Aug 2, 2015 16:42:52 GMT -5
juat like mom! what injury to jess' dream? his foot again? Rachel's Valentina Sparkles in Debut By Claire Novak Bloodhorse Photo: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher It took Rachel's Valentina a moment to figure out what this racing thing is all about, but once the 2-year-old filly found her stride, there was no stopping her en route to a sparkling debut victory Aug. 2 in an $83,000 maiden special weight at Saratoga Race Course. Watch Video The juvenile daughter of Bernardini is the second foal out of the champion racemare Rachel Alexandra, but her first foal to race. She ran six furlongs in a final time of 1:10.39 on a fast track under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, drawing off late after reeling in pacesetter Awesome Dame to finish two lengths ahead. Sent off favored at even money in a group of eight young fillies, Rachel's Valentina broke a step slow and was hustled from the gate by Velazquez, but still had significant ground to make up after a quarter in :22.25. The Todd Pletcher trainee made a big rally five wide coming off the far turn, behind a half in :45.75, and took control through five-eighths in :57.94. Rachel's Valentina returned $4.10, $3.10, and $2.40. Awesome Dame paid $5.40 and $3.30. Louisiana-bred Big World, running well back in third, brought $2.80. Rachel's Valentina was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. Her 3-year-old half-brother, the Curlin colt Jess's Dream, is also in training for Stonestreet at Saratoga with Kiaran McLaughlin, but has yet to race after having his training delayed because of injury.
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