The Valor Stakes will be run on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Lone Star Park as Race #13, a 6-furlong dirt stake for Texas-bred fillies and mares three years old and upward carrying a purse of $75.000. Since the initial run this race has remained a Texas-bred sprint in its recent editions, with Luz International winning in 2022 with Full Twigger and again in 2024 with Wocky Woad. Luz International returns with Women To Blame and Kinfolk, giving the owner a chance to collect a third Valor Stakes victory in five runnings.

1. Uspinmerightround — Xcel Racing / Vazquez R A — Odds: 5/2

Uspinmerightround enters off a 6-furlong claiming victory at Churchill Downs, where she advanced from fourth, reached third by the third call, and prevailed by a head. She has won seven of 16 lifetime starts and owns five wins from nine starts across 2025 and 2026. Her recent Texas-bred stakes efforts were less effective, as she finished fifth in the Bluebonnet and fourth in the Yellow Rose, but her latest performance shows that she remains in strong form. She is a leading contender if she reproduces that Churchill effort against this state-bred field.

2. Women To Blame — Luz International / Wethey Jr F — Odds: 12/1

Women To Blame was fourth in a Texas-bred optional claimer at Lone Star on May 9 after racing close to the early pace. She won a claiming race over good dirt at Houston in February, but that victory came against softer company than she meets here. Her lifetime record of 13-2-3-2 shows some consistency, although she has yet to demonstrate the same finishing ability as the principal contenders. She will need a career-best performance to win the Valor Stakes.

3. Solar Quita — T Boy Racing / Juarez A J Jr — Odds: 7/2

Solar Quita has already proven capable at this level, having won the Yellow Rose Stakes at Houston on March 21 after sitting third throughout the early stages. She followed that effort with a sixth in the Bluebonnet and a third in the same May 9 Lone Star optional claimer that included several of today’s rivals. Her most recent start came on turf, where she finished fifth in the Star Scholar Stakes. Returning to 6 furlongs on dirt is a favorable change, and her established state-bred stakes form makes her a serious win candidate.

4. Kinfolk — Luz International / Alvarez J L — Odds: 2/1

Kinfolk has finished second in three consecutive Texas-bred dirt races and has been narrowly denied in each of her two most recent starts. She led throughout the Bluebonnet Stakes before losing by a nose, then again controlled the pace in the May 9 Lone Star optional claimer and was beaten by the same margin. She also set the pace in the Yellow Rose before finishing third. Her 18-2-7-5 lifetime record reflects how frequently she has been involved without winning, but her repeated ability to establish command makes her the most dependable pace presence in the field. She has a strong chance to convert one of those near misses into a stakes victory.

5. Princess Meghan — Blue Ridge Racing / Eramia R E — Odds: 4/1

Princess Meghan won the May 9 Lone Star optional claimer by a nose after tracking Kinfolk from third and moving into second at the third call. That result gave her a fifth lifetime victory and demonstrated that she can finish effectively at this exact distance and track. She had finished sixth in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance and fifth in a 7-furlong Texas-bred optional claimer in her prior two starts, so the return to 6 furlongs appeared to suit her. She is a legitimate threat to repeat her latest success, although she must again overcome Kinfolk’s early advantage.

Pace Structure & Race Outlook

Kinfolk appears most likely to establish the early lead. She has been in front at every call in each of her last three dirt starts and has repeatedly carried that speed deep into the race. Women To Blame and Princess Meghan should be positioned close behind, while Solar Quita has shown the ability to race effectively from just off the leaders.

Uspinmerightround is more likely to settle behind the initial pace and make her move after the leaders have been established. Her Churchill victory came from a tracking position rather than on the front end, giving her a potentially favorable setup if Kinfolk faces sustained pressure.

The central question is whether Kinfolk can maintain her advantage through the final yards. She has lost her last two races by a nose after leading most of the way, while Princess Meghan has already shown that she can catch her under these exact conditions.

Projected Winner

Top Selection: Kinfolk

Kinfolk gets the call because she owns the clearest pace advantage and has been narrowly beaten in consecutive races against several of these same rivals. Her Bluebonnet second also confirms that she can carry her speed effectively in state-bred stakes company.

Princess Meghan is the main danger after defeating Kinfolk at this distance on May 9. Solar Quita offers proven stakes form through her Yellow Rose victory, while Uspinmerightround is the strongest late-running threat if the leaders weaken. Women To Blame is the live longshot but must improve on her latest fourth-place finish.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded