Vale Dori in peak form amid four-race winning streak

ARCADIA, Calif. – Vale Dori’s four-race winning streak this winter has come at a time when the mare has been in peak form – and when two leading rivals are being prepared for comebacks.

The champions Songbird and Stellar Wind are not likely to be ready to race until April, leaving Vale Dori the dominant older female on dirt in Southern California this winter. She won her third consecutive Grade 2 race Saturday at Santa Anita in the $200,345 Santa Maria Stakes, a prep for the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Stakes at 1 1/8 miles March 18.

Vale Dori figures to be a short-priced favorite in the Santa Margarita.

“She’s making money,” trainer Bob Baffert said in the winner’s circle. “We enjoy watching her run and she tries hard every time.”

In the Santa Maria, Vale Dori ($2.60) finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of Show Stealer, who was 3 3/4 lengths clear of Autumn Flower. Those were the first three finishers of the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes on Jan. 14. Vale Dori won the Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap at Del Mar on Dec. 3, the first win of her current streak.

“She keeps beating the same group, so that’s good,” Baffert said. “She’s just steady and she’s right there.”

Vale Dori even threw in a bit of pre-race drama. She became upset in the gate, forcing jockey Mike Smith to scramble for safety.

“She jumped up and tried to flip or something,” Baffert said. “I don’t know what it was. Something got her, but she will do that.”
Owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Vale Dori has won 7 of 12 starts and has earned $694,943.

Mike Smith rode Vale Dori and Bolo. Through Saturday, he led all riders at the winter-spring meeting with seven stakes wins, one more than Flavien Prat.

Bejarano takes short break after spill

Jockey Rafael Bejarano took off his mounts Sunday after being unseated in a spill in Saturday’s ninth race.

Bejarano was unseated when Eaglemaker broke down severely in the stretch of a maiden race at a mile on turf. Bejarano walked into an ambulance on his own power and underwent precautionary x-rays at a local hospital Saturday evening, according to his agent, Tora Yamaguchi.

“It was a precautionary measure,” Yamaguchi said.

Bejarano is expected to resume riding on Thursday. Through Saturday, Bejarano was tied for third in the jockey’s standings with 18 wins.