Rachel's Valentina training up to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

ELMONT, N.Y. - The undefeated Rachel's Valentina will bypass next Saturday's Grade 1 Alcibiades and train up to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland on Oct. 31, trainer Todd Pletcher said Saturday morning at Belmont Park.

Rachel's Valentina is 2 for 2, having won a six-furlong maiden race at Saratoga on Aug. 2 and the Grade 1 Spinaway at seven furlongs Sept. 5. She and California-based Songbird, who is scheduled to race Saturday in the Grade 1 Chandelier at Santa Anita for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, are considered the leading contenders for the Juvenile Fillies.

Rachel's Valentina is a daughter of Preakness winner Bernardini out of 2009 Preakness winner and Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. She is based at Saratoga but is scheduled to van to Kentucky later this week. She had her first work since her Sept. 5 Spinaway victory at Saratoga on Saturday, going a half-mile in 49.20 seconds.

"We considered running her in the Alcibiades but have decided to train her up to the Breeders' Cup," Pletcher said. "She runs well fresh."

Spinaway runner-up Tap to It also is training up to the Juvenile Fillies. She worked a half-mile at Belmont Park on Thursday in 47.75 seconds, the fastest of 22 works at the distance on the day.