Bourbonette winner Summer Soiree sold to Team Valor

Team Valor International announced Thursday that they have purchased Summer Soiree, the 10 3/4-length winner of the Grade 3 Bourbonette Stakes last Saturday at Turfway Park, and will run the filly next in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Summer Soiree, by the hot young sire War Front, was owned by former Kentucky Gov. Brereton C. Jones and Wahoo Partners LLC. Larry Jones had trained the filly for her last two starts, an Oaklawn Park allowance romp and the Bourbonette.

Team Valor’s president, Barry Irwin, said in a media release that Summer Soiree will be flown Monday from Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., to join trainer Graham Motion’s stable at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. Motion is the head trainer for all Team Valor horses, effective Friday.

“We saw her race in person Saturday and were ultra impressed with her,” said Irwin.

Irwin said Summer Soiree likely will have three workouts leading into the Grade 1 Oaks and might even do so in the company of Animal Kingdom, the colt who captured the Turfway showcase, the Vinery Spiral, an hour or so after Summer Soiree won the Bourbonette.

Larry Jones still has a major Oaks candidate in Joyful Victory, owned by Fox Hill Farm. Joyful Victory runs next in the April 10 Fantasy at Oaklawn.