Valedictory Stakes (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
WO- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Dirt
December 6, 2025
The two horse battle that we were anticipating in the Valedictory Stakes never materialized, but that’s just fine with Night Rider Stables. While his Dangerous Fugitive did not step up, Don’t Ever Try It would in his place, coming from behind to win by about a length. This was a horse that was claimed for just $5.000 in June and would make his 30th career start his biggest career win. This is the first win in the Valedictory Stakes for both trainer Night Rider Stables and jockey D Fukumoto. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 2:29.33, which is in the top half of past winning times for the race. Let’s take a look at how it happened:
(½ Mile- :49.44)- In search of making his first penny, U S A Arsenal surges out to the lead for Williams9 and opens up a four-length lead. Everyone else is unconcerned about him, and it’s The Sidley Stud’s Commander Doom running second on the rail, a half-length in front of Dangerous Fugitive and Cheap Ways, respectively trained by Night Rider Stables and Riggins Racing, and the two we expected to be battling it out for the win. Lord Cherokee is positioned between these two for Threshold. Behind them, our eventual from Night Rider Stables, Don’t Ever Try It runs in sixth while close to the rail, and is seven lengths from the front. Yes Yes Yes (Mojica Racing) is nearby to his outside, and trailing is Eastern Empire (Barcelona Farms).
(3/4 Mile- 1:14.50)- Approaching the backstretch, the race reaches its midway point with U S A Arsenal still leading the way with a four-length advantage. None of the competition is worried, and it’s very tight for second as there are four of them across the track. Commander Doom is still the second-place horse, with Dangerous Fugitive and Cheap Ways matching one another’s stride. Lord Cherokee is within a half-length of them while in the third lane. Behind them, Don’t Ever Try It is still seven lengths from the lead and waiting to hit his best stride. Yes Yes Yes and Eastern Empire also save ground early.
(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- By the time they reached the end of the backstretch, it was clear that U S A Arsenal was a sitting duck and in regard to him, the only question was how long it would take for him to fall to last. Cheap Ways hit the top of the turn looking to be the first to make the pass but both Dangerous Fugitive and Lord Cherokee were hanging with him. However, Commander Doom also was looking vulnerable. Don’t Ever Try It was closer and was poised to strike during the turn. Within the turn, Cheap Ways would drift out quite a bit to the outside, leaving both Dangerous Fugitive and Lord Cherokee to also catch up to him. Cheap Ways also left a big opening for Don’t Even Try It, who had been waiting for his time to strike right behind this group. Now, he only had about to a length and a half to make up and plenty of time to complete the pass.
(Finish- 2:29.33)- That opening was ideal for Don’t Ever Try It, and he was ready to come storming through. Cheap Ways and Lord Cherokee were putting up a valiant fight, but they would be not much for Don’t Ever Try It, who was at his best in the closing strides to go on and win by a length. Lord Cherokee takes second in a photo with Cheap Ways, and Dangerous Fugitive takes fourth. Next come Eastern Empire, Commander Doom, and Yes Yes Yes. Then, finally, U S A Arsenal would finish as well.
About The Winner- Don’t Ever Try It, trained by Night Rider Stables and ridden by D Fukumoto, is a six-year-old gelding by Marry Me Mandy and is out of the late I Hope You Dance. He was bred in British Colombia as a second quarter two-year-old by LionKing Stables and was acquired by Night Rider Stables, via Luz International, with a $5.000 claim this June. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fifth in 30 starts and first stake win. His career earnings are now $474.050.
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES