After rough Kentucky Oaks, Venti Valentine regrouping for Mother Goose
ELMONT, N.Y. – Venti Valentine, the multiple stakes-winning filly who finished last in the Kentucky Oaks, worked a half-mile in 48.91 seconds Monday morning over the Belmont Park main track. She is preparing for a start in the Grade 2, $250,000 Mother Goose on June 26, trainer Jorge Abreu said.
It was Venti Valentine’s first move since the Oaks.
She was racing in third early in the Oaks before having check hard on the far turn.
“She was fine,” Abreu said. “She came back from the race that day like nothing. I was a little concerned because I thought something happened.”
Abreu said he waited a little longer to work Venti Valentine after the Oaks owing in part to wet weather that had the tracks in less-than-ideal condition. He was also hoping to have Irad Ortiz Jr. work the horse and Ortiz was aboard for the Monday morning move, which was done in company with the 3-year-old maiden Lisa’s Vision.
Venti Valentine, who won the Busher and finished second to Nostalgic in the Gazelle, worked a quarter in 24.41 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.28.
“That was more than I wanted but she did it easy,” Abreu said.
Abreu said he was inclined to skip the Grade 1 Acorn on June 11 because Echo Zulu, last year’s 2-year-old champion, is expected to run in that one-mile race.