Livermore Valley rallies

Jim Ryerson kicked off his Haskell weekend with a victory, as Livermore Valley rallied to win Saturday's $60,000 Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The Colleen was the second victory of the afternoon for Ryerson, who saddles Park Avenue Ball in the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday.

Livermore Valley ($7) scored her second consecutive victory and captured her stakes debut in the Colleen, the 5 1/2-furlong prep for the $100,000 Sorority on Sept. 3.

With Aaron Gryder replacing the injured Dale Beckner, Livermore Valley broke on top from the outside stall in the six-horse race. Gryder let his filly settle in fifth as Miss McPunch, Pure Disco, and Fantast scrambled for the lead.

Winning Toast, the 8-5 favorite, grabbed the lead with a bold sweeping move after the opening quarter, but could not sustain the move.

Livermore Valley, wide throughout, started to advance as the field rounded the turn. She took charge in midstretch and drew off to a 4 1/2 length victory over Ten Halos. The winning time was 1:04.56.

"She ran real big today," Ryerson said. "We were concerned about whether she could lay off horses, and we worked on that in the morning. She did a great job of it today."

Livermore Valley, who has made all three starts at Monmouth, made her debut at 16-1 on June 2 and finished second to Todd Pletcher's Fantast, who was third in the Colleen.

Livermore Valley caught a sloppy track next time out and responded with a three-length victory. That set her up for the Colleen.

Livermore Valley is a half sister to Tangier Sound, Ryerson's former stakes-winning mare who excelled in turf sprints. While she might eventually run on grass, she will remain on the main track for now, Ryerson said.

"We'll stay here and run her in the Sorority," Ryerson said.