Guana leads competitive Valley View on turf

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Last year, the finish of the Valley View Stakes was so tight that the photo-finish camera was unable to separate Cozzy Corner and Chausson Poire.

Of course, the chances for another dead-heat for win occurring Saturday in the $100,000 Valley View are remote, but the circumstances hardly could be more favorable. An extremely well-matched group of 3-year-old fillies was entered in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, and at least half the field appears capable of being part of the picture.

Guana, trained by Elliott Walden, could come a slight favorite in the Valley View, but she will have to run better than in her last race, in which she finished fourth as the favorite in the Boiling Springs Handicap at The Meadowlands. But even if Guana runs well under Pat Day, she will have to contend with the likes of High Maintenance, Styleistick, and With Patience, all of whom have shown considerable ability.

High Maintenance, trained by Bill Mott, carries a three-race winning streak into the Valley View, including a win in an overnight stakes at Delaware in her last start. With her solid turn of foot, she figures to be on or near the pace after breaking from post 2 under Mark Guidry.

Mott also is the trainer of Styleistick, who won the Appalachian Stakes here in the spring. Robby Albarado has been named to ride.

With Patience ships in from Maryland for trainer Liz Hendriks. With Patience won stakes at Colonial and Delaware this summer, and confirmed that form by finishing third in the Boiling Springs.

Other starters in the 12th running of the Valley View are Bedanken, Kathy K D, August Storm, Dreamers Glory, Daisyago, and Mariensky. Ms Isadorable or Gilded Nip could draw in off the also-eligibles list.

The Valley View was first run in 1991, when La Gueriere, an eventual Grade 1 winner, prevailed for the late Pete Perkins. The Valley View is the eighth of nine races, with post time set for 4:52 p.m. Eastern.

Three allowances (races six, seven, and nine) also are carded for Saturday. The best of those appears to be the ninth, a 1 1/8-mile turf race in which Jake the Flake, winner of the $200,000 Kentucky Cup Mile in his last start, is a major contender.

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