A Group 1 winner in her native Argentina, Vale Dori gave her owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum his first U.S.-based graded winner with a cozy victory in Saturday's GII Bayakoa H. at Del Mar.
Purchased privately ahead of last year's Dubai International Racing Carnival, Vale Dori was a pacesetting second to 'TDN Rising Star' Polar River (Congrats) in the G3 UAE Oaks and fourth to Lani (Tapit) in the G2 UAE Derby before heading stateside. Victorious in the restricted Tranquility Lake S. at this venue Aug. 31, she was a distant third to Beholder (Henny Hughes) and Stellar Wind (Curlin) in Santa Anita's GI Zenyatta S. Oct. 1 before overwhelming a field of allowance rivals by better than 10 lengths in Arcadia Oct. 28.
Camped outside of pacesetting Gloryzapper (Ghostzapper) as that one set only a modest tempo, the race was on in earnest as Vale Dori put a head in front with just under three furlongs to travel. Wild At Heart loomed a threat as they hit the three-sixteenths marker, but Vale Dori had plenty in reserve and strode home a much-the-best winner.
“I was surprised to find out how much horse I had,” said winning jockey Mike Smith. “I gave her one little bit of encouragement and she just threw me in the back seat. She's got some kick. She's going to get better, too. I got on this filly when they first brought her here and she was all nervous. But now she's cool and calm. Have to give a lot of credit to Bob [trainer Bob Baffert] and his crew. They've brought her far along.”
The Bayakoa represented the first victory in a U.S. graded stakes for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum, who campaigned the winner's sire to a score in the 2007 UAE Derby before eventually shipping to the states to be runner-up in the GI Stephen Foster H. and GII Suburban H. in 2009. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa also campaigns Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), second to California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) in the G1 Dubai World Cup and again in the GI Woodward S.
Saturday, Del Mar
BAYAKOA H.-GII, $201,035, DMR, 12-3, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:44.79, ft.
1–VALE DORI (ARG), 123, f, 4, by Asiatic Boy (Arg)
1st Dam: Valerina (Arg), by Halo Sunshine
2nd Dam: Valereusse (Arg), by Equalize
3rd Dam: Valery Toss (Arg), by Egg Toss
O-Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum; B-Abolengo
(ARG); T-Bob Baffert; J-Mike E. Smith. $120,000. Lifetime
Record: 10-5-3-1, $454,943. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]2–Wild At Heart, 118, f, 4, Indian Charlie–Lady Cerise, by Honor
Grades. ($450,000 2yo '14 OBSMAR). O-Ramona S. Bass;
B-Martin Cherry (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $40,000.
3–Moyo Honey, 117, f, 4, Mizzen Mast–Charming Lauren, by
Meadowlake. ($25,000 Ylg '13 FTKOCT; $70,000 2yo '14
EASMAY). O-Lorill Harlingten & Aaron Sones; B-Whisper Hill
Farm (KY); T-Patrick Gallagher. $24,000.[bullet ad=”timber-town-consigned”][bullet ad=”brocklebank-yearling-purchase”][bullet ad=”purchased-by-mersad-metanovic-bloodstock”]Margins: 3, 3/4, HF. Odds: 0.50, 5.20, 49.40.
Also Ran: Show Stealer, Barbara Beatrice, Autumn Flower, Gloryzapper, Desert Madam. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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