Valley Loot brings back class into Larkspur

Top Michigan mare Valley Loot heads a cast of nine statebred fillies and mares in the $50,000, six-furlong Larkspur Handicap at Pinnacle Race Course.

Valley Loot won the 2008 edition of the race and was third last year for trainer Ronnie Allen and owner Felicia Campbell, the president of Pinnacle. In two outings this year, the 6-year-old Valley Loot has a pair of seconds. She was run down late on June 20 to be beaten by a neck. Most recently, on July 6, Valley Loot rallied to be beaten by less than three lengths in allowance company at Presque Isle Downs.

A winner of 13 races and $544,285, Valley Loot has never been worse than third at Pinnacle.

Shakaleena, who defeated Valley Loot last month, won t be in the Larkspur, but Peak of the Storm and Baba Booyah, who were right behind her in the tight finish, figure to be Valley Loot s main competition. The 4-year-old Peak of the Storm is winless since last year s Regret Stakes but was beaten just a half-length in her last out.

Baba Booyah, one of the top 3-year-old fillies locally last year when she won the Michigan Oaks, is 1 for 3 as a 4-year-old, winning an allowance at Thistledown on May 3. Leading trainer Robert Gorham and owner Henry Mast have two-time stakes winner Moon Charmer in the Larkspur.

Hakuna Matata, who won last fall s Michigan Sire Stakes 3-year-old filly division, will be making her first start of the year. She is trained by Larry Uelmen, and leading rider Jose J. Delgado will ride.