Valedictory Stakes (Grade 3)- $125.000 Purse
WO- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Dirt
December 13, 2020

No More Haggis had been running well in his last three races, but they all resulted in second place finishes. Finally, in the Valedictory Stakes at WO, he would get to the winners circle, making the most of the full twelve furlongs in which the race consists of. While doing so, he would leave no doubt that he was the best horse in the field, winning the race by an impressive four lengths and the fastest winning time recorded in the race since 2014. It will be exciting to see where he ends up after this, as this was a sharp looking victory. Savoring that win is YME Stable, capturing this race for the first time, as does jockey E J Wilson. Congratulations to them! That winning time was 2:29.04, the third fastest in its history. Let’s take a look!

(½ Mile- :48.88)- The early leader of the race would be the Nakamura Stables trained Class Factor, taking a two length lead as they entered the front stretch for the first time, and crossed the finish line for the first time with that advantage. Kaunakakai, last year’s winner from The Sidley Stud, would challenge him momentarily but drop back to run three wide just off the lead. The other two horses in that group were our eventual winner, No More Haggis, from YME Stable, who held his ground while on the rail. Between them was Chrystal Chrystal (Maxmillion Farm), with Sunpunch (John Henry) a length and a half further back. Psychotic Ruler (Night Rider Stables) and Hurricane Run (Fractious) ran together five and a half lengths off the pace. Post time favorite Popular Decision (Axeman) trailed by seven.

(¾ Mile- 1:13.44)- Around the clubhouse turn and into the backstretch, Class Factor continues to hang on to the lead by about two lengths as there is not much change in the running order. Midway through the backstretch, however, we begin to see Class Factor getting a little leg weary, and the whole field starts to eat into their deficits. Getting closer to the turn, Class Factor was in trouble, and No More Haggis was ready to pounce on this opportunity. He would move down a couple lanes to prepare the pass on the outside, something that was imminent to happen in the turn. Chrystal Chrystal and Kaunakakai were doing the same thing while to his outside, so there would still be plenty more work to do for No More Haggis. Sunpunch, Psychotic Ruler, and Hurricane Run were a little closer now, within three and a half lengths, but were not making a push to the front yet. Popular Decision had yet to show why he was a popular decision among the bettors.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- No More haggis gracefully completes the pass for the lead without any trouble in the turn and emerges in the stretch with a two length lead The size of that advantage was the surprising part as neither Chrystal Chrystal nor Kaunakakai would keep up with him. In fact, they were looking more leg weary than Class Factor now, and had not even gotten by that one yet. To his credit, Class Factor may have found a second wind towards the end of the turn and would hang on a lot more gamely than it looked like he would when the run around the turn began. We’re still waiting for Sunpunch, Psychotic Ruler, and Hurricane Run to get moving. Popular Decision was not looking like a threat.

(Finish- 2:29.04)- In the stretch, all that was left to do was to watch No More Haggis extend his lead and wonder where we might see this horse next after such an impressive score. For now, he will celebrate this win, which is by four lengths. Behind him, there was nothing but fading horses and horses that were not responding with run. Hurricane Run and Class Factor will be able to say they hit the board in the race, and Psychotic Ruler gets a fourth place check. Rounding it out, it is Chrystal Chrystal, Sunpunch, Kaunakakai and Popular Decision.

About The Winner- No More Haggis, trained by YME Stable, and ridden to victory by E J Wilson, is a three year old colt by Ginger Haggis, and is out of No Scrubs. He was bred in New York by YME Stable as a first quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in ten starts, and his first stake win. His career earnings are now $171.120.

Track: Fast
Time: :48⁴  1:13²  2:03¹  2:29

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 2 Paid 22.20
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 2 – 4 Paid 126.50

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES