Asmussen has promising Texas-bred sprinter

Will Farish and trainer Steve Asmussen have a promising Texas-bred sprinter on their hands in Valid Code, who earlier this month won the $50,000 Yellow Rose over such established female sprinters as Wrenice, Stealth Cat, and Annie Savoy. With the win, she improved her career record to 4 for 5. Valid Code came into the race off back-to-back allowance scores in Oklahoma.

"She ran two dynamite races at Remington, and we were excited about trying her with Texas-breds," Asmussen said. "Now she's a stakes winner."

Valid Code, who is by former Asmussen trainee Valid Expectations, is the fourth stakes winner produced from the mare Charlie Fepp. The others are Charlie's Beau, Balkan, and Tuned In. Valid Code, a 3-year-old who defeated older rivals in the Yellow Rose, has been working at Sam Houston and was flattered last weekend when the race's runner-up, Stealth Cat, came back to win the $50,000 Bold Ego at Sunland Park.