Valadorna points to Ashland Stakes at Keeneland

Trainer Mark Casse suggested just after Valadorna had finished third in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes that the 3-year-old filly could bypass the Fair Grounds Oaks and race instead in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. On Sunday, Casse confirmed that was the plan.

“She came out of that race very good, has come back and trained well,” Casse said. “We’re still working shipping arrangements and keeping an eye on the weather. We’ll probably go 10 days, two weeks before the race.”

The $500,000 Ashland is April 9. Valadorna won a maiden race last fall at Keeneland by six lengths. She was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but after a Fair Grounds allowance win in her 3-year-old debut, she failed to improve in the Rachel Alexandra, where she was beaten more than three lengths by Farrell and was passed late for second by the maiden Majestic Quality.