'Valley' heads Plymouth

Valley Loot, winner of last month's Regret Stakes, heads a cast of nine 3-year-old statebred fillies in the $50,000 Plymouth Stakes at Great Lakes Downs. The Plymouth, at seven furlongs, is the sixth of eight races on the card, which starts at 6:30 p.m. All participants will carry 121 pounds.

Valley Loot, undefeated this year and never worse than third, has raced exclusively at Great Lakes Downs, where she won two stakes last year. She won the Michigan Juvenile Fillies and Temptress Stakes, and was second to Dublin Dutchess in the Michigan Sire Stakes.

In the Regret, Valley Loot dueled with Plymouth rival Tropic Rose before pulling away to win by nearly six lengths. She worked seven furlongs in 1:29.80 here last week. Owned by Kimberly Allen, Valley Loot is a family horse. The trainer is Kimberly's father, Ronnie Allen, and her brother Mike is the regular rider.

Dublin Dutchess, the state juvenile filly champion last year, reared at the start and lost rider Freddie Mata in the Regret. She then continued without Mata, putting in a full effort for the six furlongs. She came back a week later in the Larkspur Stakes, which included fillies and mares, and pressed the pace for most of the six furlongs before giving way.

Mata, who did not ride Dublin Dutchess in the Larkspur, will be back in the saddle for owner Henry Mast and trainer Bob Gorham. Gorham also trains Tropic Rose, who gets the services of Tommy Molina.