Valley Stream packed with talent

JAMAICA, N.Y. - The Valley Stream Stakes for juvenile fillies at Aqueduct has not been known for producing future stars. But it would not surprise many if more than one of the six entered for Sunday's $75,000 Valley Stream for 2-year-old fillies, being run for the first time as a Grade 3 race, were to show up in Grade 1 races next year.

In just a few starts, Forest Heiress, Proper Gamble, A New Twist, and On Parade have shown enough talent to be pegged as horses with a future. Cherokee Girl and Vesta complete the field.

"Every filly in the race looks solid," said Todd Pletcher, a two-time Valley Stream winner and the trainer of Proper Gamble who is unbeaten in two starts.

Proper Gamble set a Meadowlands track record when she won her debut, covering 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.59 on Oct. 2. Castelli Miss, who finished second to Proper Gamble, came back on Oct. 23 to set a track record of 1:02.91.

Proper Gamble came back in an Oct. 25 allowance race at Belmont Park, sat a perfect trip behind dueling leaders A New Twist and Vesta, and cruised to a two-length victory in a solid 1:10.27.

"We sat a perfect trip, but she also delivered a big performance," Pletcher said.

After winning her maiden impressively on July 7, A New Twist was shelved with tender shins. When she returned in that Oct. 25 allowance race, jockey Edgar Prado had her down on the inside part of Belmont's main track - not the place to be - and he took a firm hold of her after jetting her out of the gate. In the stretch, she ran on the unharrowed part of the track and nearly hit the rail.

Having drawn the rail, A New Twist will probably have to use her speed again under Prado. She will be out front with Forest Heiress, a multiple stakes winner at Monmouth Park who suffered her first defeat in the Astarita on Oct. 8. In that race, Forest Heiress had a clear lead, but was ridden hesitantly and gave way to Bella Bellucci.

On Parade, the first foal out of multiple Grade 1 winner My Flag, cuts back to six furlongs after winning her maiden first time out at seven furlongs. Cutting back in distance is not the ideal scenario, but there are not many options.

"She's going to want to go longer, but I'm sure there'll be plenty of speed in there to give her something to run at," said Buzz Tenney, assistant to trainer Shug McGaughey.

On Parade lures Jerry Bailey back to Aqueduct for the first time since Nov. 6.