Valley of the Vapors victress Winnable injured, retired

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Winnable, who captured the $200,000 Valley of the Vapors on Saturday at Oaklawn, has been retired, trainer Kenny McPeek said Tuesday.

Winnable was injured in the race, he said. She is expected to begin a new career as a broodmare. McPeek said those plans are to be determined by her breeder and owner, Stoneleigh Farm. Winnable is a 3-year-old by Justify.

Neom Beach, who was second by a head in the Valley of the Vapors in her third stakes placing of the Oaklawn meet, could see action on turf down the line, according to trainer Steve Asmussen.

Earlier in the meet, Neom Beach was third in both the $200,000 Year’s End and $250,000 Martha Washington. She was a local allowance winner in March.

“I think she has run valiantly at Oaklawn all spring,” Asmussen said, “but still at the back of my mind she’s got the possibility of being better on the turf.”

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Asmussen said Neom Beach likely will now head to Churchill.

“I would like to work her on the turf a time or two,” he said. “I had planned on running her on the turf last year, loved how she had worked over it at Saratoga in the summer.”

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