Valley View – Grade II
I mile Turf Stake Purse $400.000 Three-Year-Old Fillies. At KEE

1st      Piatt            Royalty Stables               *1.55-1 (HRP) 4-1 (SRF)

Versatile Piatt stepped up to this mile test from a string of seven sprint runs and switched back to front running speedster to cruise wire to wire and hang on to a half-length victory. Regular rider J R Velazquez has ridden her front runner and deep closer and chose here to hustle her out of the gate contrary to Buick’s tactics when rode her in her only other route try. I was intrigued by the odds as well: five graded starts and always the favourite, including this race in spite of her lack of recent route efforts.

2nd      Elegance Of Light           Maxmillion Farm        9.35-1 (HRP) 15-1 (SRF)

Elegance Of Light stepped up to graded stakes level impressively by playing the part of deep closer coming from seventh to second in a grade two stakes and coming within a half-length of winning the race thus proving what a clever purchase she was just four months ago.

3rd      Aime La Nature                  Our Athletes            3.30-1 (HRP) 3-1 (SRF)

Aime La Nature proved that that last sprint run was a throw-away with this strong run. She broke just behind the eventual winner and forced the issue the entire way right up to the finish line but just couldn’t get past Piatt, and of course, Elegance Of Light got in between.

4th      Angelic Wonder                Mb Stables                5.50-1 (HRP) 7-2 (SRF)

The win streak broke, but Angelic Wonder showed real heart stalking the leaders to the stretch and closing in to within a length of the winner at the wire.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES