Valtellina gets by Bernietakescharge again in Empire Distaff
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A relentless Valtellina reeled in front-running Bernietakescharge in the shadow of the wire to take the $250,000 Empire Distaff by a head at Belmont Park.
The result was the same as last year in the Empire Distaff only Valtellina won that one by a much handier 2 1/4 lengths over Bernietakescharge.
Last year, Bernietakescharge was hampered by a pace duel in a seven-horse field. Saturday, in a field of five, Bernietakescharge had to deal with some mild pressure from Grazie through a half-mile 46.57 seconds before Grazie began to give way.
Bernietakescharge, under Kendrick Carmouche, had a clear lead turning for home, but Valtellina, under Dylan Davis, just kept on coming to catch Bernietakescharge who was not stopping. Bernietakescharge finished second by 13 1/4 lengths over Boxed Wine.
Grazie, the even-money favorite based on two dominant wins going shorter distances than this, finished fourth, was followed by Racing Colors. Iron Orchard scratched.
The win was the third straight and fifth from 18 starts for Valtellina, a 4-year-old daughter of Complexity owned by Pavillion Racing and trained by Ray Handal.
“I got to give accolades to Bernietakescharge, she really dug in,” Handal said. “At the top of the stretch I thought we had the race pretty easily, but she dug in and they threw it down. [Valtellina’s] tenacity to win, her fight that you can’t train into them, kicked in and she got it done.”
Davis said he had to ask Valtellina earlier than he was planning after Grazie, under Flavien Prat, gave way.
“Going into the turn, I thought Flavien would have a little more horse to keep Bernietakescharge honest, but they ended up faltering there mid-turn so I had to take charge there early, get driving, because she's really steady,” Davis said. “Did just enough to get there the last couple jumps."
Valtellina, a 4-year-old daughter of Complexity owned by Pavillion Racing, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.76 and returned $6.64 to win.
Handal said he would consider the $175,000 Go for Wand on Dec. 6 for Valtellina if she’s doing well enough or just give her a break and point to a 2027 campaign.
Shot It True takes Filly and Mare Turf Sprint
In the $200,000 New York Filly and Mare Turf Sprint Championship, Shoot It True ($3.38), under a confident Antonio Fresu, outfinished Annascaul to win the six-furlong turf race by a half-length.
It was 2 1/4 lengths back to late-running Silsbee in third.
The victory was the sixth from 12 starts for Shoot It True, who was making just her second start in New York-bred company. Her other start resulted in a win in the Notebook Stakes on dirt as a 2-year-old at Aqueduct.
Shoot It True, a 4-year-old daughter of Munnings owned by Ice Wine Stables and Smart Choice Stables and trained by Wesley Ward, covered the six furlongs in 1:07.29 over firm turf.
Munnings Express cruises in Iroquois
In the $200,000 Iroquois, for female dirt sprinters, odds-on favorite Munnings Express ($3.10) sat a perfect trip behind dueling leaders under Manny Franco, took over turning for home and drew clear to a 1 3/4-length victory over the 3-year-old filly Venetta. It was 2 1/2 lengths back to longshot Queens Cat in third.
Munnings Express, a 4-year-old daughter of Munnings, won for the seventh time from 14 starts and her second stakes win. In August, at Saratoga, Munnings Express won the Johnstone Stakes.
Munnings Express is owned by Team Spoor Stakes and trained by Linda Rice. She covered 6 1-2 furlongs in 1:16.21.
Cash Burn wins Maid of the Mist
In the $200,000 Maid of the Mist Stakes, for 2-year-old fillies, heavily-favored Cash Burn ($3.64), under Flavien Prat, took over from the pace-setting Sun Kissed Bliss inside the three-sixteenths pole and outfinished B Yutiful Carly to win by a neck. B Yutiful Carly, bothered by Sun Kissed Bliss coming out of the gate, rallied to finish second by Davidson in third.
Cash Burn, a 13 1/2-length debut winner at Saratoga on Aug. 20, improved her record to 2 for 2 for owner Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown.
Cash Burn, a daughter of Nyquist, covered the mile in 1:36.65.
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