Valadorna gets first stakes win in Fair Grounds' Tiffany Lass

Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Valadorna was much the best in Tuesday’s $50,000 Tiffany Lass Stakes over the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots main track, which was the first stakes victory for the 3-year-old daughter of Curlin.

Patiently ridden by Brian Hernandez, Jr., Valadorna broke well and sat just off the pace in the early stages of the Tiffany Lass while keeping a close eye on front runner and 27-1 longshot Sky Flower, who led the field of 11 fillies and mares under Samuel Camacho, Jr. with slow opening fractions of 24.47,48.50 and 1:12.95. Approaching the far turn, Valadorna began to inch her way closer to Sky Flower and confronted the pace setting longshot as the field turned for home. Finally, Valadorna took command at the top of the stretch and won the Tiffany Lass Stakes under a hand ride by 3½ lengths in a time of 1:42.11. Sky Flower had enough left in the tank to hang on for second while Promise of Spring, guided by Robby Albarado, took the show spot. 

“I was fortunate enough to be on the best horse,” Hernandez said. “She proved it for us the whole way around. I just kind of sat up there and she made our job easy and made us look good. That day (Nov. 4) she hadn’t run in so long and the filly that beat her that day (Mannerly, fifth in the Tiffany Lass) had a few of races under her belt. Coming off of that race, it just improved her. (Assistant trainer) David (Carroll) and the team have done just such a good job with her that she keeps getting better and better.”

“She ran an awesome race,” Casse’s assistant Allen Hardy added. “She had been training real well leading up to the race and Brian did a great job and found a great spot. She’s a good racehorse.”

Valadorna made her fourth trip to the winner’s circle in eight lifetime starts, which include a runner-up effort in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies behind Champagne Room. She earned $28,520 for her victory in the Tiffany Lass Stakes which increased her lifetime earnings to $498,920. 

Valadorna returned $4.80, $3.80 and $3.20. Sky Flower paid $13.80 and $6.80 with Promise of Spring returning $6.60.

Completing the order of finish were Champagne Problems, Mannerly, Song of Spring, Steel Cut, Thoughtless, Show Stealer, Motown Lady and Alotta Skirt.

Source: Fair Grounds news release