Valentine Fever dominates Cincinnati Trophy

Valentine Fever entered the $50,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park with a reputation as a skilled synthetic-track horse. And she only furthered that reputation Saturday, winning over Polytrack by eight lengths.

Rebounding from her first defeat in three starts over synthetic surfaces, a fourth-place finish in the Dec. 22 Gowell Stakes at Turfway, Valentine Fever ($12.80) easily handled the opposition in the sprint for 3-year-old fillies. Rated in fourth early by jockey Tommy Pompell, she quickly advanced on the rail to hit the front, and drew off in the stretch.

She raced 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:19.60 over a surface that played slowly throughout the afternoon under bitterly cold temperatures.

Mrs Petoski, a 23-1 longshot, rallied for second, finishing 4 1/2 lengths clear of Love Buzz, who nosed out favored Miss Red Delicious for the show position.