'Favrette' leaps into stakes

Come-from-behind victories have long been a trademark for Brett Favre. So it seems only fitting that a Thoroughbred closely named for the Green Bay Packers quarterback has also developed a winning style by charging from off the pace.

, a 3-year-old filly trained by Greg Foley, is 2 for 2 in her career, having captured back-to-back sprints at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky. The third start of her career will come Saturday at Turfway, where Brett's Favrette will stretch out to a mile as one of the favorites in the $50,000 Valdale Stakes.

A Kentucky-bred by Smart Strike, Brett's Favrette is owned by the Lloyd Madison Farms syndicate, which also raced the outstanding sprinter Champali and a less accomplished claimer named Johnny You. Champali was named in honor of boxer Muhammad Ali, and Johnny You for quarterback Johnny Unitas.

"All the partners are big sports fanatics," said Rob Lloyd, who manages Lloyd Madison, a partnership of Fred Schwartz, Jim Bakke, and Tim Sweeney.

Like her namesake, Brett's Favrette has been a winner so far. She made her career debut Jan. 1, surging from seventh to win a maiden race, then followed with an allowance victory Feb. 6, when she rallied from fifth.

Brett's Favrette is one of two major Valdale contenders representing Foley, whose 16 wins through Thursday led all trainers at the Turfway winter-spring meet. The other is Touch of Splendor, who lost three straight races to begin her career but, like her stablemate, brings a two-race win streak into the Valdale, having won a Jan. 13 maiden race and a Feb. 12 allowance.

Brett's Favrette will break from post 4 under Rafael Mojica Jr. Mojica's younger brother, Orlando, has the mount on Touch of Splendor (post 2). The Foley horses are not coupled for wagering purposes.

Probably the most capable challenger among the other seven fillies entered is Patty Seattle, who was the beaten favorite when she finished a late-closing second behind Touch of Splendor two weeks ago. Two other notable starters are Flexible Princess and Full of Fun, both soundly beaten three weeks ago by males in the WEBN Stakes.

The Valdale is the 10th of 12 races on a Saturday card that starts at 1:10 p.m. Eastern.