Valiant Girl Captures Omnibus Stakes

Antoinette Oppenheimer’s Valiant Girl held off the hard-charging Parranda to capture the $60,000 Omnibus Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday by a diminishing head.

Trained by H. Graham Motion, Valiant Girl stepped the about mile and three eighths on firm turf in 2:21.95.  The winner returned $17.40, $7.80 and $3.80 and topped an $83.60 exacta.  Parranda paid $5.80 to place and $3 to show.  It was another length and a half back to post-time favorite Tabreed, who paid $2.20 to show.

“She settled nicely,” said winning jockey Forest Boyce.  “I was told to just ride my race.  I moved when the time was right for me and everything worked out.  It got close at the end, but my filly was very game.”

Bred in Great Britain, Valiant Girl is a 4-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid from the Mark of Esteem mare Victoria Cross.  She sports a record of 3-1-1 from 11 starts, good for $68,063 in earnings.

The previous course record for the about mile and three eighths on turf with the rail set out 24 feet was established by Approved by Dylan on Aug. 17, 2008, when he stepped the distance in 2:22.69.

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Sunday, Aug. 25 – gates open 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m.