Fran's Valentine (USA)
February 26, 1982 – October 4, 2007
Saros (GB) x Iza Valentine (USA), by Bicker (USA)
Family 1-n
February 26, 1982 – October 4, 2007
Saros (GB) x Iza Valentine (USA), by Bicker (USA)
Family 1-n
Fran's Valentine was an embodiment of the saying that "a good horse can come from anywhere." A graduate of racing at Pomona (later Fairplex Park) on the California fair circuit, she became a multiple state-bred champion and a filly of near-national championship class at 2 and 3, Fran's Valentine suffered a controversial disqualification in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1) but became a triple Grade 1 winner at 3. She continued to race well at 4 and 5 and was a successful broodmare in spite of a rather offbeat pedigree.
Race record
34 starts, 13 wins, 4 seconds, 5 thirds, US$1,375,465
1984:
1985:
1986:
1987:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1984, 1 pound below champion filly Outstandingly and tied with Folk Art for second in the division.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1985, 5 pounds below co-highweights Mom's Command (the official divisional champion) and Lady's Secret but third in the division.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1986, 8 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Lady's Secret but tied for third in the division.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1987, 2 pounds below champion North Sider and tied for third in the division.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare of a feminine, refined build, Fran's Valentine tended to be a slow starter in her races, which left her vulnerable to traffic problems. If she got away alertly, she could be placed as her jockey desired. She was completely game and determined when set down for a drive although she was inclined to loaf if not kept to her work after catching a rival. She needed a hard, very fast track to be at her best and did not handle deep or cuppy surfaces well. She had good manners with her human handlers but was not very social with other horses. She enjoyed sugar as a treat.
As a producer
Fran's Valentine produced 10 named foals; all 10 started and six were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in California, Fran's Valentine was bred and owned by Earl Scheib, who raced the filly in the colors of his Green Thumb Farm Stable. She was trained by Joe Manzi. She was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) score by Pat Valenzuela. She was acquired privately by George Strawbridge after producing her third foal. She was humanely destroyed at Derry Meeting Farm, Pennsylvania (where she had been pensioned following her broodmare career), in October 2007 due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Sired by City and Suburban Handicap winner Saros (an English-bred son of 1970 French Horse of the Year Sassafras), Fran's Valentine is inbred 5x4 to 1945 Two Thousand Guineas winner Court Martial. She is a full sister to 1988 Silver Screen Handicap (USA-G2) winner Iz a Saros and to stakes-placed Crissy Aya, dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Kara's Orientation (by Orientate). Fran's Valentine is also a half sister to listed stakes winner Carsonality (by Carson City).
Fran's Valentine is out of Iza Valentine, a stakes-placed daughter of the Grade 2-winning Round Table horse Bicker. A half sister to stakes winner Azu Were (by Azurae) and to Hatchet Miss (by The Axe II; dam of multiple stakes winner Speedy Shannon, by Sadair), Iza Valentine is out of juvenile stakes winner Countess Market, by 1956 Westerner Stakes winner Count of Honor (by Count Fleet). The next dam in the tail-female lineage, On to Market, failed to win in five tries but was sired by Market Wise's good son To Market, whose six stakes wins included the 1950 Arlington Futurity and Washington Futurity and the 1952 Arlington Handicap and Hawthorne Gold Cup.
Books and media
Fran's Valentine is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: January 1, 2024
Race record
34 starts, 13 wins, 4 seconds, 5 thirds, US$1,375,465
1984:
- Won Black Swan Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Pomona)
- Won Bustles and Bows Stakes (second division) (USA, 6FD, Pomona)
- 2nd Hollywood Starlet Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd California Breeders' Champion Stakes (Fillies) (USA-LR, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Also finished first in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1, 8FD, Hollywood) but was disqualified to tenth.
1985:
- Won Santa Susana Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Hollywood Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Hollywood; new track record 1:47-2/5)
- Won Las Virgenes Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Princess Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Hollywood)
- Won Yankee Valor Handicap (USA-L, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Gazelle Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
1986:
- Won Chula Vista Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
- Won B. Thoughtful Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Dulcia Handicap (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Valkyr Handicap (USA-LR, 8FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Palomar Handicap (USA-G2, 8FT, Del Mar)
- 3rd Hawthorne Handicap (USA-G2, 8FD, Hollywood)
1987:
- Won Santa Maria Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
- California-bred champion 2-year-old filly (1984)
- California-bred champion 3-year-old filly (1985)
- California-bred champion older female (1986, 1987)
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1984, 1 pound below champion filly Outstandingly and tied with Folk Art for second in the division.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1985, 5 pounds below co-highweights Mom's Command (the official divisional champion) and Lady's Secret but third in the division.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1986, 8 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Lady's Secret but tied for third in the division.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1987, 2 pounds below champion North Sider and tied for third in the division.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare of a feminine, refined build, Fran's Valentine tended to be a slow starter in her races, which left her vulnerable to traffic problems. If she got away alertly, she could be placed as her jockey desired. She was completely game and determined when set down for a drive although she was inclined to loaf if not kept to her work after catching a rival. She needed a hard, very fast track to be at her best and did not handle deep or cuppy surfaces well. She had good manners with her human handlers but was not very social with other horses. She enjoyed sugar as a treat.
As a producer
Fran's Valentine produced 10 named foals; all 10 started and six were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- With Fascination (1993, by Dayjur) won the 1995 Prix de Cabourg and was twice Group 1-placed. She is the dam of English listed stakes winner With Interest (by Selkirk).
- With Anticipation (1995, by Relaunch; a gelding) won five Grade 1 turf races at ages 6 and 7.
- With Fervour (1997, by Dayjur) placed four times in 11 races. She produced two-time Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) winner Mr Stunning (by Exceed and Excel).
Connections
Foaled in California, Fran's Valentine was bred and owned by Earl Scheib, who raced the filly in the colors of his Green Thumb Farm Stable. She was trained by Joe Manzi. She was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) score by Pat Valenzuela. She was acquired privately by George Strawbridge after producing her third foal. She was humanely destroyed at Derry Meeting Farm, Pennsylvania (where she had been pensioned following her broodmare career), in October 2007 due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Sired by City and Suburban Handicap winner Saros (an English-bred son of 1970 French Horse of the Year Sassafras), Fran's Valentine is inbred 5x4 to 1945 Two Thousand Guineas winner Court Martial. She is a full sister to 1988 Silver Screen Handicap (USA-G2) winner Iz a Saros and to stakes-placed Crissy Aya, dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Kara's Orientation (by Orientate). Fran's Valentine is also a half sister to listed stakes winner Carsonality (by Carson City).
Fran's Valentine is out of Iza Valentine, a stakes-placed daughter of the Grade 2-winning Round Table horse Bicker. A half sister to stakes winner Azu Were (by Azurae) and to Hatchet Miss (by The Axe II; dam of multiple stakes winner Speedy Shannon, by Sadair), Iza Valentine is out of juvenile stakes winner Countess Market, by 1956 Westerner Stakes winner Count of Honor (by Count Fleet). The next dam in the tail-female lineage, On to Market, failed to win in five tries but was sired by Market Wise's good son To Market, whose six stakes wins included the 1950 Arlington Futurity and Washington Futurity and the 1952 Arlington Handicap and Hawthorne Gold Cup.
Books and media
Fran's Valentine is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Fran's Valentine was named in honor of owner Earl Scheib's wife, who died during the filly's juvenile season.
- Fran's Valentine was disqualified from first to tenth for a bumping incident in the stretch in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1) making her the first (and to date only) horse disqualified from a victory in a Breeders' Cup race.
- The Fran's Valentine Stakes is a restricted turf stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
Last updated: January 1, 2024