Tapit Filly Stays Unbeaten in Monmouth's Open Mind

Valiance (inside) | Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

Valiance increased her record to three-for-three while earning lucrative black-type in Sunday's Open Mind S. at Monmouth Park. A debut winner at Gulfstream Apr. 13, the pricey Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad doubled up in a course-and-distance allowance May 27 and was off as the narrow second choice facing a solid group of sophomore fillies. Away well, the grey settled in to sit third as the field strung out heading into the first turn. She grabbed a foothold at the fence heading down the backside, and was given her cue to quicken after a half in :47.15. Ranging up out wide hitting the lane, she leveled off in midstretch to wear down Ellyb and kick away. Her Royal Highness (Paddy O'Prado) uncorked a powerful late rally to cut it close late, but ran out of real estate.

“She was doing well even before her last race and ran well, even though she had a little troubled trip. She was trying to get out that race, but she wound up winning,” said Anthony Sciametta, assistant to winning conditioner Todd Pletcher. “Todd said it was time to give her a shot and see where she's at. I thought this was a competitive race with a good field. It's a nice win. She keeps progressing, which is what you want to see. She's a horse that tries. This race she went around horses instead of coming inside, so she's learning as she gains experience. It's probably too early to know how good she is. If she keeps going up the ladder and her numbers keep going up on the sheets, we'll have to test her again.”

China Horse Club paid $1.5 million for Grade I winner Last Full Measure–herself a daughter of MGISW Lazy Slusan (Slewvescent)–at the 2014 Keeneland November Sale in foal to War Front. The resulting foal brought $600,000 at Keeneland September. Last Full Measure has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Medaglia d'Oro, a yearling colt by Exaggerator and a filly foal by Mastery.

OPEN MIND S., $79,500, Monmouth, 6-30, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:41.84, gd.
1–VALIANCE, 116, f, 3, by Tapit&hid=28277">Tapit
1st Dam: Last Full Measure (GISW, $293,245), by Empire Maker
2nd Dam: Lazy Slusan, by Slewvescent
3rd Dam: Three Flights Up, by Topsider
($650,000 Ylg '17 FTSAUG). 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Eclipse
Thoroughbred Partners, Martin S. Schwartz & China Horse
Club International Ltd.; B-China Horse Club International
Limited (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Nik Juarez. $45,000.
Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $96,000.
2–Her Royal Highness, 117, f, 3, Paddy O'Prado–Joan of Arc, by
Roman Ruler. O/B-Albert Frassetto (KY); T-H. Graham Motion.
$15,000.
3–Ellyb, 116, f, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Eversmile, by Theatrical
(Ire). ($360,000 Wlg '16 KEENOV). O-Audley Farm Stable; B-SF
Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Arnaud Delacour. $7,500.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, HF. Odds: 3.20, 13.90, 3.70.
Also Ran: La Feve (Fr), Beautiful Lover, Here Comes Jackie, Karama, Connectivity, Decorated Ace. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.