Rachel's Valentina (Bernardini–Rachel Alexandra, by Medaglia d'Oro), a winner of the GI Spinaway S. at the Spa last September and second to champion juvenile filly and fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) in the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, has been retired from racing, announced breeder Stonestreet Stables on their website Sunday morning. The bay was retired “sound and injury free,” according to the release, with Rachel's Valentina now set to become a broodmare.The homebred is the second foal from the 2009 Horse of the Year, champion sophomore filly and GI Preakness heroine Rachel Alexandra. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Rachel's Valentina earned 'Rising Star' status when unveiled at the Spa last August, six years to the day of her dam's tally in the GI Haskell Invitational S. Returning from her Breeders' Cup effort as a 3-year-old, she missed by only a neck in Keeneland's GI Ashland S. this April, prior to two unplaced finishes when sixth in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 6 and fifth in Belmont's GI Mother Goose S. July 2. Rachel's Valentina retires with a record of 6-2-2 and earnings of $738,800. Her dam's first foal, Jess's Dream (Curlin), is still in training and was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' when taking his debut at Saratoga in August of last year.
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