Valadorna earns first graded stakes win in Doubledogdare

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The sky seemed the limit for Valadorna after the filly finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita in November 2016. But a combination of factors somehow kept her from so much as a graded stakes win – until Friday, when she surged to win the 24th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland.

Getting a well-judged ride from Brian Hernandez Jr., Valadorna settled nicely in seventh through the opening stages of the 1 1/16-mile Doubledogdare before sweeping to the lead at the top of the stretch and wearing down 23-1 Apologynotaccepted. The winner returned $8.80 as second choice in a field of 12 fillies and mares after finishing in 1:43.87 over a fast track.

The Stonestreet Stables of Barbara Banke bred and owns Valadorna, a 4-year-old Curlin filly who had won three of six starts since the Breeders’ Cup but missed in her two most recent tries in graded events.

“We’re just so proud of the filly,” said David Carroll, the assistant who deputized for trainer Mark Casse on a sun-splashed afternoon that attracted 16,363 ontrack fans. “She’s really filled out and gotten stronger. She was training beautifully and I would’ve been very disappointed if she didn’t perform today.”

Apologynotaccepted went to the lead under Julien Leparoux, tracked closest by Jenda’s Agenda and Mines and Magic. As those chasers gave way, Apologynotaccepted clung grimly to the lead but was unable to hold off Valadorna, who had all the momentum with her outside run.

“I had a lot of confidence in her,” said Hernandez. “I knew I was giving up some ground, but I wanted to give her the cleanest trip possible.”

Song of Spring rallied belatedly to be third, another half-length behind Apologynotaccepted. After the top three, the order was Ministry, Promise of Spring, Tapa Tapa Tapa, Mines and Magic, Girl Talk, Well Humored (the 5-2 favorite), Someday Soon, Jenda’s Agenda, and Julerette. Not Now Carolyn was an early scratch.

The $2 exacta (9-6) paid $155.20, the $1 trifecta (9-6-1) returned $470.90, and the 10-cent superfecta (9-6-1-5) was worth $710.10.

Twin turf marathons are all that remain on the stakes schedule at this 16-day spring meet. Those are the Grade 2 Elkhorn on Saturday and the Grade 3 Bewitch on closing day, April 27.