Sometimes all a young horse needs is a patience and an observant trainer. Venus Valentine got these from trainer Tom Amoss, and she repaid him well with a longshot victory in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (USA-G2) at the Fair Grounds last Saturday. Her personal valentine may have been a little late coming, but Amoss was undoubtedly happy to receive it anyway.
At this point, no one is going to mistake Venus Valentine for Songbird. The filly ticked off the 8.5 furlongs of the Rachel Alexandra in a slow 1:45.24, nowhere near the 1:43.94 Gun Runner posted for the Risen Star Stakes (USA-G2) later on the same card. Nonetheless, Venus Valentine may be a much better filly than her 74-1 odds going into the Rachel Alexandra indicated. Now that her issues with cramping and tying up during exertion have been resolved, she should be able to deliver on whatever talent she possesses more consistently.
Although Venus Valentine sustained her winning drive well, she may actually be better suited to somewhat shorter distances. In the Rachel Alexandra, she was able to cut the corner inside for a dream trip on the way home, an opportunity she won't always get when stretching out. It's worth noting that her sire Congrats has an average winning distance for his progeny of 6.78 furlongs and an average maximum winning distance of 7.24 furlongs---not exactly stats associated with a dominant source of stamina---and the dam's side of Venus Valentine's pedigree also suggests more speed than stamina with Stormin Fever, Gilded Time and Bold Ruckus as the sires of her first three dams. Her dam Valentine Fever won around two turns but was better over sprint distances, and Venus Valentine may well show a similar pattern. That doesn't bode well for a crack at the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1), but there are plenty of other nice races around for a filly who may finally be coming into her own.
At this point, no one is going to mistake Venus Valentine for Songbird. The filly ticked off the 8.5 furlongs of the Rachel Alexandra in a slow 1:45.24, nowhere near the 1:43.94 Gun Runner posted for the Risen Star Stakes (USA-G2) later on the same card. Nonetheless, Venus Valentine may be a much better filly than her 74-1 odds going into the Rachel Alexandra indicated. Now that her issues with cramping and tying up during exertion have been resolved, she should be able to deliver on whatever talent she possesses more consistently.
Although Venus Valentine sustained her winning drive well, she may actually be better suited to somewhat shorter distances. In the Rachel Alexandra, she was able to cut the corner inside for a dream trip on the way home, an opportunity she won't always get when stretching out. It's worth noting that her sire Congrats has an average winning distance for his progeny of 6.78 furlongs and an average maximum winning distance of 7.24 furlongs---not exactly stats associated with a dominant source of stamina---and the dam's side of Venus Valentine's pedigree also suggests more speed than stamina with Stormin Fever, Gilded Time and Bold Ruckus as the sires of her first three dams. Her dam Valentine Fever won around two turns but was better over sprint distances, and Venus Valentine may well show a similar pattern. That doesn't bode well for a crack at the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1), but there are plenty of other nice races around for a filly who may finally be coming into her own.
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