Turfway Park: Lotta Lovin wins third straight stakes in Valdale

Lotta Lovin proved a popular winner Saturday when bet down to odds-on favoritism before proceeding to a 3 1/2-length triumph in the $50,000 Valdale Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

The Valdale marked the third straight Turfway stakes score, and the first around two turns, for Lotta Lovin, a Pennsylvania-bred 3-year-old filly by Repent. She returned $3.60 after finishing the one-mile Polytrack race in 1:39.59.

Victor Lebron was aboard for New York businessman Buck Butler and trainer Mike Maker in adding the Valdale to her previous sprint triumphs in the Gowell and Cincinnati Trophy, both Turfway sprints. After overcoming a minor stumble when breaking from the inside post in a field of eight, Lotta Lovin tracked the leaders before finding room at the top of the stretch and quickly asserting her superiority.

“I wanted to wait as much as I could because I had a lot of horse,” said Lebron, who, like Maker, has dominated his respective category this winter. “When she saw daylight, she just took off.”

Sweetnessngoodness was second at 10-1, with Dixie Jackpot another four lengths back in third at 46-1. The $2 exacta (1-7) paid $26 and the $1 trifecta (1-7-3) returned $106.60. Dream Pegasus, the 3-1 second choice, ended a dime superfecta (1-7-3-2) worth $26.82.

Butler said the Bourbonette on March 24 at Turfway or perhaps even the Grade 1 Ashland on April 7 at Keeneland are logical next options for Lotta Lovin, given that both are run on Polytrack.