Navratilova serves up front-running victory in Valley View Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – It was game, set, and match from the opening volleys for Navratilova when the filly led most of the way in the Grade 3 Valley View Stakes in a 25-1 upset Friday at Keeneland.

Stretching out from a turf sprint 12 days beforehand, Navratilova was sent by jockey Colby Hernandez from the start of the 1 1/16-mile turf race before winning by a length over Crazy Beautiful in a field of 11 3-year-old turf fillies. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro is trained by Rusty Arnold for breeder-owner G. Watts Humphrey Jr.

“Rusty said get her out there on the lead, going easy, and she’ll finish up for you,” Hernandez said.

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Navratilova, named for tennis legend Martina Navratilova, was winning a graded race for the first time in nine starts. This was her third win overall, with the ungraded Tepin at Churchill in June being a prior stakes score.

Under cloudy skies and intermittent drizzle, Navratilova had a short lead over Crazy Beautiful under the wire the first time in the 31st running of the $150,000 Valley View before clearing off around the first turn. After turning into the stretch, Tobys Heart, the 8-5 favorite, launched a serious inside bid but ultimately was thwarted, with Navratilova continuing resolutely to prevail over Crazy Beautiful. Adventuring was a neck back in third, just a nose before Tobys Heart.

Navratilova was produced by Centre Court, who was produced by Let, all of them owned by Humphrey, for whom Arnold has trained for nearly 30 years.

“That’s unheard of in our business,” Arnold said. “Tells you what kind of guy he is.”

The Valley View was run over a yielding course, with the final time being 1:43.57. The two earlier races scheduled for the turf (4 and 7) were moved to the main track because of its soggy condition.

The $2 exacta (5-3) paid $430.20, the $1 trifecta (5-3-7) returned $1,348.80, and the 10-cent superfecta (5-3-7-4) was worth $341.55.

Sweet Dani Girl wins Myrtlewood

One race earlier, Sweet Dani Girl powered to victory in the $150,000 Myrtlewood, collaring the front-running duo of Kant Believe It and Verylittlecents with about 100 yards remaining when remaining unbeaten in two career starts.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Sweet Dani Girl returned $6 as favorite in a field of 10 2-year-old fillies after finishing six furlongs in 1:10.36 over a fast main track. The daughter of Jess’s Dream was bred in Florida by her owners, J&J Stables and Nick Vaccarezza.

“This is a really nice filly,” said her trainer, Carlo Vaccarezza, who knows his way around a top horse, having bred and owned Little Mike, an earner of more than $3.5 million. “Winning here is very exciting.”

In her only prior start, Sweet Dani Girl won a Churchill Downs maiden race last month at 45-1 over Famed, a half-sister to the highly accomplished Essential Quality.

Kant Believe It edged Verylittlecents for second, while Jester Calls Nojoy, the 2-1 second choice, was no factor in finishing fifth.