Valid Lil looks to stay undefeated on dirt

Valid Lil is unbeaten on dirt, and she makes her first start in a dirt stakes in Saturday night's $45,000 New Braunfels at Retama Park near San Antonio. The six-furlong race drew seven fillies and mares, including seven-time winner Star of Idabel.

Valid Lil is 5 for 6, with her lone loss coming on turf two starts ago in the $50,000 Adena Springs at Remington Park on Aug. 4. One race later, Valid Lil was back on dirt and back in the winner's circle, taking a $35,000 optional claimer at Remington on Aug. 31.

"She didn't like the turf at all," said Bret Calhoun, who trains Valid Lil for Circustown Stables. "We'll avoid that from now on."

Valid Lil began her career in May, and reeled off four straight sprint wins during the Lone Star Park meet. She was on the pace in all of those races, but last out rallied from a stalking position for a 3 1/4-length win in the optional claimer at Remington.

"They outstepped her early, and she was willing to sit there, and finished well down the lane," said Calhoun. "It was kind of a different race for us. I was glad to see that - that she didn't mind sitting off horses."

Bobby Walker Jr., who has won two of the three stakes run this meet, has the mount on Valid Lil.

Star of Idabel enters off a fourth-place finish against males in a turf sprint allowance at

Louisiana Downs on Sept. 8. Before that race, she was second by a length in the $115,000 Hallowed Dreams Breeders' Cup, also at Louisiana Downs. Filemon Rodriguez has the mount for trainer Dewaine Loy.