Valid more likely for Hooper than Donn

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Marcus Vitali has his top handicap star Valid nominated to both the Grade 1 Donn and the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper here on Saturday and said he’s leaning toward running him a mile in the Hooper rather than 1 1/8 miles in the Donn. Valid dropped a heartbreaking head decision to Mshawish in the Hal’s Hope after defeating Madefromlucky in the Harlan’s Holiday. The Harlan’s Holiday was his first start since a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

“I’m not afraid to run him a mile and one-eighth in the Donn, I just think that field is probably coming up a little stronger of the two races, and he’ll fit better in the Hooper,” said Vitali. “His last race was great; it was a tough loss.”

Vitali noted that Javier Castellano had ridden Valid in the Harlan’s Holiday but was aboard Mshawish in the Hal’s Hope.

Vitali said Castellano “knew how to beat” Valid in the Hal’s Hope.

“I think that might have been the difference in the Hal’s Hope,” he said.

A field of up to 10 older horses is taking shape for the Hooper, including Valid, Tommy Macho, Ami’s Flatter, C. Zee, Grande Shores, Just Call Kenny, Morning Calm, Rich Daddy, and Wildcat Red. Todd Pletcher is running Tommy Macho and said he also is considering running Stanford.