Einhorn seeks first Belmont win with Valuable Package in Matron Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Skip Einhorn has trained horses for 30 years but has never started a horse at Belmont Park.

“I’ve been on the also-eligible list a few times,” Einhorn said Thursday.

On Sunday, Einhorn, based at Monmouth Park, will venture across the Hudson River and run his first horse at Belmont when he sends out Valuable Package in the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. The Matron, run at six furlongs, drew a field of only five.

Valuable Package, a daughter of Kantharos, won her debut Sept. 10 at Monmouth by 7 3/4 lengths, leading from gate to wire under Wilmer Garcia.

“I was impressed with the race,” said Einhorn, who for the first 20 years of his training career raced under the name Raymond Einhorn. “Wilmer said he had plenty of horse; he was never challenged, really. We figured we would challenge her in this spot.”

Valuable Package earned only a 53 Beyer Speed Figure for her debut win. Einhorn said he and the owners, brothers Kevin and Rick Hoover and Rick’s wife, Cherie, received some offers for the horse afterward.

“I guess her Beyer wasn’t big enough, so they said we could significantly increase that offer if she was to do well in a better race,” Einhorn said.

Valuable Package will take on Happy Like a Fool, who returns to the United States and to dirt after racing twice on turf in England, including a second-place finish in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes. Also entered were Honey Graeme, Take Charge Paula, and Tarawa.