Valley Loot seeks to end long winless drought

Michigan horse of the year Valley Loot will be spotting her rivals four to 12 pounds when she seeks to get back to her winning ways in Saturday's $20,000 Moonbeam Handicap at Pinnacle Race Course. The one-mile Moonbeam, restricted to Michigan-bred fillies and mares, drew a field of eight and goes as race 8.
Valley Loot has finished second in all three starts this year, including twice at this meet, the latest in the July 17 Larkspur Handicap. Her last win for owner Felicia Campbell, CEO of Pinnacle, came in last October's Michigan Sire Stakes.
Equalitysdebutante beat Valley Loot by five lengths in the Larkspur for her firsts victory since 2008. The 5-year-old Equitsdebutante gets a new jockey in Octavio Bernal and carries 118, five pounds less than Valley Loot.
Trainer Larry Penner has also entered the 3-year-old Peak of the Storm, winner of the June 20 Regret Stakes and third in the Larkspur. The pair will race uncoupled, though both are owned by Richard Hammer.
Leading trainer Robert Gorham has Moon Charmer and Baba Booyah in the Moonbeam. Both were stakes winners last year at 3, with Moon Charmer defeating older mares, including Valley Loot. Henry Mast owns both, who will also race uncoupled.
The field includes Hakuna Matata, the top 3-year-old filly in the state last year; 8-year-old multiple Michigan stakes winner Half a Glance;