Waterville Lake Stable’s Miss Valentine gained command
after turning for home and drew off to a three-length score in the $75,000
Serena’s Song Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.
Trained by Christophe Clement, Miss Valentine sat mid-pack
early before making her move nearing the far turn. She overpowered pacesetter Coco Ecolo just
before the eighth-pole and finished up strong to pay $6.40, $2.60 and $2.60 as
the favorite in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies. Withgreatpleasure rallied to complete the $32
exacta and paid $4.20 and $2.80. It was
another length and a quarter back to Coco Ecolo, who returned $2.40 to show.
“I have to give all the credit to Christophe Clement,”
said winning jockey Joe Bravo. “He did a
great job with this filly. He told me
just to get her to relax early since she was stretching out to two turns for
the first time in a while. There was a
good honest pace, but this is a stakes race.
Everyone is here to win.”
The Serena’s Song was the third win in seven starts for
Miss Valentine, a daughter of Afleet Alex from the Gilded Time mare Miss
Yiayia. She has now banked $154,800 for
her connections.