Sheppard Runners Live in Split Valley View
On Friday, George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable and trainer Jonathan Sheppard will be represented in each division of the $125,000 Pin Oak Valley View (G3) for 3-year-old fillies racing 1 1/16 miles on the turf course. Angel Terrace and James Graham will break from post eight in the field of 12 in the first division. In the second division, Daylight Ride and Rosie Napravnik will break from post two in the field of 12.
“They’re both nice, useful fillies,” Sheppard said. “Whether they’re quite up to this level – that’s why we’re running to find out. They’re well bred. They’re nice looking. They’re sound, and they both won a couple of races so it’s time to test the next level to see what we’ve got. But we’re not going in there with any unduly optimistic expectations – kind of hoping, that’s all.”
Angel Terrace, a Ghostzapper filly whose second dam is champion Storm Song, has not raced since July 29 when she was fourth to Alaura Michele in the Nani Rose over a mile on the turf at Saratoga.
Daylight Ride is coming off an allowance victory at 1 mile and 70 yards over the turf at Penn National on September 21. The El Prado (IRE) filly is from the family of Juddmonte Spinster (G1) winner Acoma and Fayette (G3) winner Arch.
On Saturday, Sheppard will send out Lael Stables’ Senada in the $125,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager, a race she won last year while with trainer Barclay Tagg. Sheppard said the 5-year-old Pulpit mare, who was third in the Grey Goose Bewitch (G3) here in April for Tagg, is to be retired after her 2012 campaign.