Brereton Jones’ Mark Valeski,
allowed to settle early, commenced a rally when set down for
the drive, took command after the furlong grounds and drew clear late
for a one-length tally in Friday’s $49,000 Fair Grounds feature, an
allowance $50,000 optional claiming event at six
furlongs.
The winner, trained by
Larry Jones and ridden by apprentice
C. J. McMahon, toured the
three-quarter mile distance in 1:10.18, increased his career earnings to
$55,800 with his second victory in three lifetime starts and returned
mutuels of $7.60, $3 and $2.80.
Runner-up
Radiant Talent, owned by
Martin Cherry, pressed the pace, gained the advantage at the eighth
pole, could not withstand the winner late but was easily second best,
paying $2.20 and $2.10 while finishing 6 1/2-lengths
to the good of Raut LLC’s Adena’s Chance, who paid $4.20 to show.
Winchell Thoroughbreds’s
Seeker made the pace with splits of 22.44 and 46.33 before weakening to fourth.