Dueling Ground Oaks (Grade 3)- $2,000.00 Purse
KD- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and Five Sixteenths on the Turf
September 9, 2026

Another entertaining couple weeks of action at KD has come to an end, as the running Grade 3 Dueling Ground Oaks sent a full field of three year old fillies chasing the top portion of the $2,000.00 purse. 15/1 longshot Valley Center will join Let Me Explain and Credit Crime as race winners, doing so for Nakamura Stables. It’s the first win in the race for the trainer, as well as for jockey D E Centeno. Congratulations to them! Valley Center was not one of our picks, and our choices other than Star Sequence ended up being disappointments. The race winning time was 2:05.42, putting it in the middle of the race’s three editions.

(½ Mile- :47.56)- State Title is out in front early for Mb Stables and keeping herself out of trouble as she shows the way around the track with about a two length cushion. It’s like rush hour right behind her, with a five wide group stalking, and then another group of four tucked in tight behind those horses. That first group sees the outermost horse, Acber Farms’ Tranect officially scored as running second, and the Team 7-Illusions filly, Star Sequence is third in the third lane. Between them, it’s Patronize for D J C Racing Stables, and the two that are running along the inside are Weerden and Influence Seeker, who are respectively trained by Royalty Stables and Mb Stables. As for that group right behind them, our eventual winner from Nakamura Stables, Valley Center, is a part of it, and she would have no where to go right now even she wanted to while on the rail. Firewall, from Mb Stables, will run on the outside, and between horses, we have Rowena (Williams9) and I Am The Storm (TwinTowersRacing). Bubble Bath (Maxmillion Farm) is a length behind Valley Center, then we have a big gap to Whirlwind Spirit (Acber Farms), and Clement (Royalty Stables), with even more to the trailer, Shot Of Summer (Diablo Diablo).

(3/4 Mile- 1:11.50)- State Title still holds the lead over the next portion of the race, heading into the turn while still leading by two lengths. Star Sequence, as well as Tranect, have begun to push ahead of the other three they had been running with, then eventually Weerden is able to the same. Influence Seeker and Patronize are not keeping up with those they had formerly been running with, and now have Firewall beginning to move by them to their outside. Next are Rowena and Valley Center, running five lengths from the front, and they still do not have much room to run. I Am The Storm is three wide here, and also looking for room. Bubble Bath is still right behind Valley Center, with nothing changing behind her.

(Top of Stretch, 2F To Go)- Over the second half of the turn, Star Sequence begins to show her intention of taking over the top spot, and cuts into the leader’s advantage before reaching the top of the stretch. These two are side by side at this point, with things looking good for Team 7 Illusions. Weerden is also advancing nicely, and has moved into the third spot, and that is something that would also make D E Centeno happy while aboard Valley Center. With that advance, Centeno could simply follow her through the pack, and then once clear of horses such as Rowena, she could then be moved over to make her run to the front. Now, she was only two lengths from the front and full of run. Behind her, Rowena, Tranect, Firewall, and Influence Seeker were four wide, with I Am The Storm looking to make it five on the outside of them. Everyone else had a lot of work to do.

(Finish- 2:05.42)- Soon in the stretch, Star Sequence took over the lead and looked to bring home her fourth win in five starts. She’d be able to put away both State Title and Weerden, but the bigger concern now was Valley Center who was methodically reeling her in with every stride. Approaching the wire, it would be close, but the push of Valley Center would be enough to get up in time of Star Sequence for the win, and what was simply a great piece of virtual riding by D E Centeno. Behind them, there’s nothing between Weerden and Rowena as they dead heat for show. It’s two lengths to a tiring State Title, who beats I Am The Storm, then Firewall by a length. Rounding it are Whirlwind Spirit, Shot Of Summer, Influence Seeker, Patronize, Tranect, Bubble Bath, and Clement.

About The Winner- Valley Center, trained by Nakamura Stables and ridden to victory by D E Centeno, is a three year old filly by Con Will Con and is out of Apricot Valley. She was bred in Ontario as a second quarter two year old by Nakamura Stables, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fifth in 13 starts, her third stake win and second graded win. Her career earnings are now $1,506.84.

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES