Tranquility Lake win propels Vale Dori to Zenyatta Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – With stakes credentials on three continents, Vale Dori has earned a start in an ultra-tough running of the $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1.

On Wednesday at Del Mar, Vale Dori won her first stakes in the United States in the $79,290 Tranquility Lake Stakes for fillies and mares. The win was a prep race for the Grade 1 Zenyatta,where Vale Dori is likely to face two champions from 2015 – Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly, and Beholder, the champion older female.

“She’s ready now,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

Vale Dori ($3) ran a mile in 1:35.56 in the Tranquility Lake, which was restricted to fillies and mares who had not won a stakes worth $50,000 or more to the winner at a mile or longer this year.

The Tranquility Lake was Vale Dori’s second start since joining Baffert’s stable in the spring. She finished second by a neck in an optional claimer here Aug. 3.

“She improved off her last race,” Baffert said.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Vale Dori stalked pacesetter She’s a Big Winner for six furlongs before taking the lead in early stretch.

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum of Dubai, Vale Dori was a Group 1 winner in Argentina in 2015. Earlier this year, she started twice at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates, finishing second in the UAE Oaks and fourth in the $2 million UAE Derby on the undercard of the Dubai World Cup.

By Asiatic Boy, the Argentine-bred Vale Dori has won 3 of 7 starts and earned $259,943.