Venti Valentine ships in for Busher Stakes
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Venti Valentine, runner-up in December’s Grade 2 Demoiselle, is back in New York for Saturday’s $250,000 Busher Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The Busher offers its top four finishers qualifying points to the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (50-20-10-5).
Venti Valentine, a New York-bred daughter of Firing Line trained by Jorge Abreu, won a six-furlong maiden race and the one-mile Maid of the Mist Stakes at Belmont Park last fall before getting beat a neck by Nest in the Demoiselle. She wintered in South Florida before returning in time to get a half-mile work in 49.87 seconds on Sunday over Belmont’s training track.
The one-mile Busher drew a field of six. From the rail out is Shotgun Hottie, Sterling Silver, Morning Matcha, Venti Valentine, Magic Circle, and Radio Days.
Also on Saturday is the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap where Chateau will seek a repeat victory against just four rivals.
Chateau, who drew post 5, will face, from the rail out, Repo Rocks, Timeless Bounty, Officiating, and Prime Factor.