Valid Beats Team Colors in Skip Away

Cross Sabres Farm’s Valid went into Saturday’s $150,000 Skip Away Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park as the class of the field and backed up that assertion with a 1¾-length gate-to-wire victory.

Breaking alertly, the 6-year-old dark bay gelding set a methodical pace under regular rider Nik Juarez through fractions of 24.49, 48.34 and 1:12.44 for six furlongs before turning for home in the 1 1/8-miles race with a comfortable advantage over Joseph Allen’s Jimmy Jerkins-trained 4-1 second choice Team Colors under John Velazquez. Passing the mile marker in 1:36.19, the Marcus Vitali trainee held that rival at bay throughout the stretch to win. It was another 3½ lengths back to Kateryna Kappusheva’s Mikhail Yanakov-trained Enders Cat in third under John Cruz.

As the 2-5 favorite, Valid returned 2.80, 2.10 and 2.10. Team Colors returned $3 and $2.60, while 60-1 longshot Enders Cat returned $7.60.

The Skip Away order of finish was completed by Savoy Stomp, Hesinfront and Rich Daddy.

           

Trainer Marcus Vitali (Valid): “He’s a great horse, shows up every time. I loved when it was raining out today—boosted my confidence immensely. He loves the wet, a little cool breeze, and everything went his way today. No trouble and a fair fight, and we won the fight. I said to (jockey Nik Juarez) be real close today, especially when it got wet. I told Nik to let the horse take him to where he wants to be. If he gets pressured you can take him back a little bit. I just didn’t want to choke him down much. The horse showed up again today.”