Valentine Heart Breaks Some in Louisville Oaks

Original article written by Marzy Dotes posted 11 years 2 weeks ago

The crowd erupted into an uproar at Louisville Downs after the running of the Louisville Derby. Many people were awestricken by the slowness of the race, run in a tepid 1:59.86 and the softer speed figures scratching their heads trying to sort it all out. The winner, Doc Halladay had been the last one standing at its end in this life having been ridden skillfully by David Faulkner on a modest pace with his stable mate who finished second just a half length behind.

Faulkner posed for photos in the winner’s circle and congratulated Edgar LeBlanc who rode the runner up, both entries submitted by Eric Nalbone. The two runners had most of the race to themselves as the others didn’t seem that inspired to kick it in and try to wrestle the blanket of roses away from them. By the time the most rested or talented of the closers made their moves, it was just too late.

God, the third Nalbone entry, had the additional burden of trying to do the equivalent of walking on water with his pedigree which included his sire Just Victory and finished an uninspired 16th. Asst Trainer Mary Weather commented on the race to the media after being asked to analyze its outcome. She kept it short and sweet and then decided she’d rather take her chances in a round of poker with Clark Hoss.

Not even the lone filly Wizard’s Fire who rallied from near last to finish fourth just a neck out of third place could upset the early leaders. But then another amazing female performer now a Hall of Famer, had factored into the bloodlines of the top two finishers, that being Wonder who was third in her own Kentucky Derby and has influenced quite a few of its renditions since.

Another powerful piston of a filly was back in her stable that time preparing to be shipped to Rapid Gray Farms with her stable mate, a tabby kitty she adopted one day. She’d already done her running and impressed many with her speed and talent earlier in the day. Valentine Heart had come to the Downs prepared to break other heart and had left a trail of them in the $1 million Grade I Louisville Oaks.

She contested for the early pace but soon eased away from the field to win by 2 ¼ lengths over Stay Close to Me. The chestnut filly romped the 1 1/8 mile distance in 1:49.11.

Bred and owned by Jon Xett, this filly had won two out of five of her lifetime starts coming into this race. She broke her maiden first time out in beautiful fashion then followed it up with a nice win in the Okibi Senshi Stakes. That took her to the Steward’s Cup Juvenile Fillies where she ran into the powerhouse that is Wizard’s Fire who seized control of the race when it counted and blew Valentine Heart away by four lengths. The winner went on to be crowned North American champion two year old female and Valentine Heart took a couple of weeks off to rest and reflect before making her seasonal debut in the Silver Bullets Stakes.

Wizard’s Fire awaited her again at the gate and when the race started, Valentine Heart took off to an uncontested lead which stretched out to 5 ½ lengths in the backstretch. But in the stretch, Wizard’s Fire shot out of a cannon and tried to blow past her. This time only defeating her at the wire by a half length. The two fillies clashed again in the Lexington Oaks and again, Wizard’s Fire had her measure but at that point, the paths of the two fillies would head in separate directions.

Valentine Heart might have breathed a sigh of relief when Wizard’s Fire opted to take her chance against the males in the Louisville Derby. Her jockey Carlos Gonzales told the media that it might make his job easier. She’s bred very nicely being a daughter of Xett’s stud Zulu Dancer (who also sired his stakes horse Ant’s Marching) and out of A.P. Indy’s daughter Recently who also produced millionaire Eh Hee and Suiker the dam of Steward’s Cup Synthetic Matron winner Effy.

But other fillies, six of them, showed up to try to stop Valentine Heart from achieving her goal.

Alysse Peverell picked up Stay Close to Me for $4 million at auction and so far the grey filly had won three out of four of her starts coming into the Oaks and finished second first time out behind Valentine Heart. After breaking her maiden she picked up two nice stakes wins including in the Sunshine Oaks where she beat Relief by a neck. She’s by Peverell’s stud Open At The Close and out of Awake As I Am’s daughter When I Wake Up.

Abound, the dark bay filly was a $12.5 million purchase for Stephen Saratoga at auction and is out of the might mare Adventure which makes her a half sister to Long Island Classic winner Voldemort. She’s by I and I and coming into the race had won four out of five of her starts including the Las Californias Stakes.

Another nicely bred entry was Gold, a homebred of Ali Weasley who’s by promising sire Ultra and out of North American Champion Older Mare Altar. She came into the Louisville Oaks with an undefeated record in four starts including a powerful performance in the Southern California Oaks.

Scott Eiland has been campaigning Slumber Party who’s by North American Horse of the Year Persevere and out of Take a Nap a stakes winning daughter of Awake As I Am. The dark bay filly hit the board in stakes completion before dropping down to a conditional race in her last start to pick up a confidence boosting win.

So there was a group of regally bred, nice stepping fillies to challenge Valentine Heart even without Wizard’s Fire in the mix. But ultimately it didn’t matter as this dynamic filly bolted out of the gate and never looked back. Even while stretching out to a 1 ½ lengths lead on the far turn, no other horse drew up on her flank to pressure her.

By the time the wire rushed up, she was definitely in the clear and the crowds appeared very excited at seeing her bring it on home in great fashion.

Hopefully she’ll continue to impress in her future starts this season. That might at some point mean crossing paths with Wizard’s Fire again which should provide an exciting matchup for racing fans.

Between the filly with a big dose of magic and the one with a whole lot of heart.

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