Rachel's Valentina continues to impress in Spinaway victory

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Rachel’s Valentina continues to live up to the racing world’s lofty expectations, following up on her impressive debut win with a one-length victory over Tap to It in the $350,000 Spinaway on Saturday at Saratoga.

Rachel’s Valentina, the daughter of champions Bernardini and Rachel Alexandra, benefited from a perfectly judged ride by jockey John Velazquez to become a Grade 1 winner in just her second start. Rachel’s Valentina rated within easy striking distance of the early pace set by stablemate Tonasah and stalked by Constellation. Velazquez eased the regally bred filly toward the middle of the track to go after the leaders once settling into the stretch, overtook Constellation nearing the sixteenth pole, then turned back a bid from the previously unbeaten Tap to It to win going clear.

Tap to It was taken back to last during the opening half-mile of the seven-furlong Spinaway, swung five wide commencing her bid leaving the turn, loomed boldly just outside Rachel’s Valentina near midstretch, but could not gain on the winner thereafter. She finished another 3 1/4 lengths in front of the tiring Constellation.

Anna Rae, Tonasah, and Banree completed the order of finish.

Rachel’s Valentina, a Stonestreet Stables homebred trained by Todd Pletcher, completed the distance in 1:23.10 over a fast track and paid $5.50 while returning to the winner’s circle to the cheers of an appreciative crowd.

“I thought she ran fantastic,” said Pletcher. “Actually, she put herself into the race a little more than I thought she would, but she seemed to be handling tracking those horses well. I thought turning for home, just knowing her style and watching her train, she’s going to keep coming. We always felt like the farther she goes, the better she gets, and that’s proven to be true.”

Pletcher said he’d talk to the owners first, but the options for her next start are “pretty straightforward” – either the Frizette at Belmont or the Alcibides at Keeneland.

Ralph Nicks, who trains Tap to It, said he was proud of his filly even in defeat.

“We have to be happy,” said Nicks. “She ran well. I don’t know if [jockey Joel Rosario] had gone on a little earlier it would have made a difference, but she got to the other filly’s hip, and they ran the final sixteenth like that. She’s done a lot of things right for the short time she’s been here.”