Valid Point rallies to win first Grade 1 in Secretariat

Valid Point completed a meteoric rise to the top of the sport Saturday with an emphatic come-from-behind victory in the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park. 

Sent off as the 5-2 second choice, Valid Point and Javier Castellano were dead-last while chasing fractions of :24.14 and :47.68 set by dueling leaders Crafty Daddy and The Last Zip.

As those two continued on a clear lead around the turn, Valid Point had to go at least four wide around the far turn to slowly cut into the lead. 

Crafty Daddy and The Last Zip continued to slug it out through six furlongs in 1:12.08 and for a moment looked like they may have given the field the slip.

However, chewing up ground on the outside was Valid Point. The colt seized the lead in deep stretch and was never threatened to the wire.

Longshot Van Beethoven rallied for second and The Last Zip held third. Valid Point completed the one-mile trip in 1:35.50 and paid $7.20 to win.

“I really like the way he felt today,” Castellano said. “I let the horse be himself and relax going into the first turn and get into a nice rhythm. The way he finished was impressive to me. When I picked him up he responded right away and I think he’s going to be a really nice horse.”

Valid Point earned his diploma on debut going one-mile on the lawn at Gulfstream Park in February, then beat optional claimers at Belmont going the same trip June 7 for trainer Chad Brown. He had been training steadily at Belmont Park and Saratoga since that outing.

By Scat Daddy out of Goldbud, by Buddha, Valid Point is owned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Michael Ryan. He was purchased for $140,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September yearling sale.