Valid Commander Takes Nodouble

Roustabout Racing Stable and Dwight Fugate’s Valid Commander gained bragging rights as the top Arkansas-bred runner at Oaklawn with his second-straight  victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes before an on-track crowd of 13,229. The Nodouble is named in honor of the 1968 Arkansas Derby winner and 1969 Champion Older Male.

Breaking from the rail under jockey Alex Canchari, Valid Commander settled into fourth place as the 10-year-old veteran Humble Smarty and Mallet battled head and head through an opening quarter mile in :21 2/5 and half-mile in :45 2/5. Longshot Road to Saleeta took a brief lead at the top of the stretch, but it was short lived as the winner rallied to take command just inside the furlong marker and drew clear to win by one length over the even-money favorite Goods Gone West. Humble Smarty, last year’s winner, held on for third. Final time for the six-furlong race was 1:10 4/5.

“This was kind of a shock, but he got the perfect trip and Alex gave him the perfect ride,” said winning trainer Doug Anderson. “The horse showed a lot of patience today.”

Valid Commander, a 4-year-old Hesabull gelding bred by James Shields and R.H. Udouj, improved his career record to 5-0-3 in 16 starts and has earned $109,540. He returned $18.20, $6.20, and $4.00 at odds of 8-1.