Vale Dori draws off in Tranquility Lake
DEL MAR, Calif. - Vale Dori has proven to be a stakes filly on three continents. Wednesday, she won her first stakes in the United States in the $79,290 Tranquility Lake Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar.
The race was a prep for the $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1, when Vale Dori is likely to face two champions from 2015 – Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly, and Beholder, the champion older female.
“She’s ready now,” trainer Bob Baffert said.
Vale Dori ($3) ran a mile in 1:35.56 in the Tranquility Lake, which was restricted to fillies and mares who had not won a stakes worth $50,000 or more to the winner at a mile or farther this year.
The Tranquility Lake Stakes was Vale Dori’s second start since joining Baffert’s stable in the spring. She finished second by a neck in an optional claimer here on Aug. 3.
“She improved off her last race,” Baffert said.
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Vale Dori stalked pacesetter She’s a Big Winner for six furlongs before taking the lead in early stretch. Vale Dori led by a length with a furlong remaining and pulled away to win by 3 1/2 lengths over 3-1 Makena.
“I like the way she sat off the pace,” Baffert said.
Jolene finished third, followed by Scattagirl, She’s a Big Winner, Moyo Honey, and The Dream. Moyo Honey stumbled badly at the start and raced at the back of the field to the stretch.
Vale Dori was a Group 1 winner in Argentina in 2015. Earlier this year, she started twice at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates, finishing second in the UAE Oaks and fourth in the $2 million UAE Derby on the undercard of the Dubai World Cup program.
By Asiatic Boy, the Argentine-bred Vale Dori has won 3 of 7 starts and earned $259,943. Vale Dori races for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum of Dubai, who raced Asiatic Boy.