Valedictory Stakes (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
WO- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Dirt
December 4, 2022
Sunday will mark the 13th time that the Valedictory Stakes takes place, a race that sends horses twelve furlongs around the main track. It can be considered a smaller Grade 3, given the $150.000 purse. It’s been consistent at that purse level, however, with the only exception being a three stretch when it ran for $125.000. Despite that, we have seen some well known winners of the race, such as Shoulder Wheel and Techfluence. Last year, Kick Rocks got the win in what was a field of five, doing so for Nakamura Stables. The gelding is still active and running at the graded level, but is only seeing mixed results at this point. In the 2022 edition of the race, we will have a field of six. Let’s take a look at them!
#1- Joe Grind (Night Rider Stables, ridden by P Husbands)- After being gelded in April, Joe Grind impressively won his next two races by three lengths and that moved him into graded competition. It’s a move that continued to work out for the trainer, as Joe Grind ended up third in the PRM Cornhusker Handicap and then second in the CT Classic. While his next race was not as good, he would be awesome again in the $250.000 Empire Classic, placing second.
#2- Burnin Red Hooves (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by D Carroll)- This four year old gelding comes into the race on a three race winning streak, but the conditions that he won in are not going to intimidate any of the other horses here. This is not his stake debut, and in fact, you may remember him running in the 2020 BC Juvenile, but it’s been quite some time since he ran in a race like this. If he is rediscovering one-time BC based on this win streak, then that is what the rivals here should be concerned about.
#3- Crimson Rioja (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by L Salles)- Out of his 24 career starts, Crimson Rioja has won a quarter of them, with two coming this year, highlighted by the $200.000 Downs at ALB. He’s been seen in both the Man O War and the Pacific Classic this year, but was beaten a combined eleven lengths in those races. In fact, his graded history is actually not very impressive, and while this is smaller, it does not create excitement.
#4- Junkyard Dog (Nakamura Stables, ridden by J Crawford)- Picked up by the trainer in private sales for $125.000 in February, and he has gone on to win two out of his five starts since the sale. Both of those wins are in overnights, and in the other three races (two being ungraded stakes), he failed to hit the board. With Jive Inc., his prior owner, he has a better track record at this level, so don’t rule him out here.
#5- Anna Da Artist (Smokey Stover, ridden by S R Bahen)- From January until June, Anna Da Artist ran off a five race winning streak, but before you get excited about that, those early wins were for small purses. Eventually, he successfully jumped in class, running second in the Grade 3 LA Derby. His last race was also successful, winning the $250.000 Perryville at KEE while earning a 99 SRF. Of course, this race is almost twice as long as that one.
#6- The Hook (Arindel, ridden by D Moran)- Since being gelded in February, The Hook has not always won but he has always been able to put in a strong effort. He’s won two of his last three, including the $275.000 Bourbon Trail at CD in September. His last start wasn’t a win, but a strong fourth at twelve furlongs in the Grade 2 TAA Stakes at KEE is encouraging when looking at this race. This race is not as strong, so a similar effort may be all it takes.
Prediction: 6-5-2-1
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
