Valid Stripes takes his second stakes of the winter

Valid Stripes continued his strong meet at Retama Park when he tracked the pace en route to a 2 1/2-length win in Saturday night's $125,000 colts and geldings division of the Texas Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile. It was his second stakes win during the current winter season, his first coming in the $50,000 Groovy in December.

Valid Stripes ($3) sat just off Come on Flyer early in the Stallion Stakes, as that one led the field through fractions of 24.63 seconds for the opening quarter and 49.21 for the half-mile. The eventual winner overtook the pacesetter soon afterward and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:38.41.

Corey Lanerie rode Valid Stripes for trainer Amos Laborde.

Valid Stripes, who races for Donald Erickson, has now won 3 of 7 career starts and $145,230.

Tiffany Royal wires fillies division

Also on the card was a $125,000 division of the Texas Stallion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, and Tiffany Royal ($3.60) wired the field to win her two-turn debut in the one-mile race. She set fractions of 24.10 for the opening quarter, 48.02 for the half-mile, and 1:13.33 for six furlongs before finishing 7 1/2 lengths clear of the field in 1:40.06.

The Cat Who finished second, 5 1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Monica's Skirmish.

Tiffany Royal has now won 4 of 7 starts and $222,328. Justin Shepherd rode the filly for trainer Steve Asmussen. Tiffany Royal is owned by Asmussen's father, Keith, and Heiligbrodt Racing Stable.