Lady Valeur Back at Winning Distance in Providencia

Lightly raced Lady Valeur will attempt to earn her first-ever added money victory Saturday when she runs in the 36th running of the Grade III, $150,000 Providencia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

LADY VALEUR – In the barn of trainer Paddy Gallagher since late last year, Lady Valeur has been preparing for a jump up in class since her solid second place finish in a downhill turf maiden special weight Jan. 17. A 3-year-old Irish-bred filly by the Danehill stallion Multiplex, Lady Valeur went on to win her next outing, a 1 1/8 miles maiden special weight over a ‘firm’ turf course Feb. 13 before running second to Mirage, by a neck, in the March 12 China Doll Stakes at one mile on grass. Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, she is 4-1-3-0 overall with earnings of $63,088.

MIRAGE – Owned by Mrs. Fitriani Hay, Mirage will look to make it three in-a-row Saturday. Eighth in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, the Simon Callaghan trainee ran fourth in the Grade III Jimmy Durante at Del Mar on Nov. 28 before a sixth place finish in the Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita Dec. 27. In 2016, Mirage is two-for-two on the turf, including a win in the China Doll Stakes in her last out on March 12. She is 7-3-1-0 overall with $112,768 in earnings.

NODIAC – Trainer Phil D’Amato will send out Nodiac Saturday in hopes of turning the tables on Providencia rivals Lady Valeur and Mirage. With a win and a solid second place finish down the hillside turf course in January and February, this Irish-bred filly by Kodiac ran third most recently in the China Doll behind Mirage and Lady Valeur respectively. Owned by Little Red Feather Racing and Marsha Naify, Nodiac is 5-1-2-2 overall with earnings of $70,181.

1.     Decked Out – Kent Desormeaux – 120

2.     Mirage – Flavien Prat – 120

3.     Kiss N Scat – Mike Smith – 120

4.     How Unusual – Stewart Elliot – 120

5.     Nodiac – Rafael Bejarano – 120

6.     Do the Dance – Fernando Perez – 120

7.     Jeremy’s Legacy – Mario Gutierrez – 120

8.     Sheeza Milky Way – Alonso Quinonez – 120

9.     Lady Valeur – Gary Stevens – 120

First post time for a 12-race card on Saturday is at 12 noon.  Admission gates open at 10 a.m.