U. S. S. Valor and Dotsy sparked fresh excitement heading toward the Breeders’ Cup
The Team Valor International colt shone brightly in the Champagne Stakes (G1), while the undefeated filly pulled off a shocker in the Frizette Stakes (G1); both earned their maiden Group 1 victories at Belmont at the Big A, though their connections have yet to finalize their travel plans to Keeneland
ELMONT, New York (Special for Turf Diario).— Between the confirmation of an enormous talent and the emergence of a filly capable of changing the trajectory of a small stable, Belmont at the Big A supplied two names to keep a very close eye on heading toward the Breeders’ Cup. U. S. S. Valor romped in the Champagne Stakes (G1) and Dotsykept her unbeaten record intact in the Frizette Stakes (G1), the $500,000 mile events for 2-year-olds that highlighted Saturday’s card.
The performance by the son of War of Will displayed sheer dominance alongside a valuable lesson for stiffer tests ahead. After breaking his maiden by 13 1/4 lengths at Saratoga, this time he had to wait behind horses, accept the race flow, and find daylight before unleashing a turn of foot that left his rivals without an answer.
Ridden by Manny Franco, the 1-4 favorite broke a step slow and settled fifth, but remained close to a compact leading group. Gaudreau (Nyquist), Johnny Hockey (Omaha Beach), and Club Reign (Core Belief) contested the early pace through fractions of :23.19 and :46.08. Still trapped behind horses around the turn, the Team Valor Kentuckyhomebred angled outward upon entering the stretch, bumped briefly with Earth Song (Justify), and promptly put the race to bed.
His powerful stretch kick allowed him to pull away by 6 1/2 lengths over Gaudreau, with Club Reign third another 2 lengths back, stopping the clock in an excellent 1:34.84. The contrast with his debut was stark: on August 8 at Saratoga, Gaudreau had defeated him, leaving him third by just three-quarters of a length.
“When I asked him again, he exploded. He’s got so much talent,” summarized Franco. Trainer Shug McGaughey, for his part, appreciated that the colt had a target in front of him and successfully navigated adversity. For the Hall of Fame trainer, it marked his fourth Champagne victory, following triumphs with Polish Navy (Danzig) in 1986, Easy Goer(Alydar) in 1988, and Adjudicating (Danzig) in 1989.
The victory earned an automatic berth with fees paid into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In program, alongside 10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby (G1). Nevertheless, McGaughey and Team Valor’s Barry Irwin will wait to see how he comes out of the effort before committing to their next move. The trainer’s measured approach sat alongside the owner’s excitement, who declared he had never owned a horse of such raw quality.
The Frizette delivered a completely different storyline. Managing a boutique stable of just nine horses based entirely at Finger Lakes, John Grabowski secured the first graded stakes victory of his training career straight at the highest level. The heroine was Dotsy, a $37,000 purchase who is now two-for-two in her career.
Guided by Kendrick Carmouche, the TSP Enterprises colorbearer stalked from third along the outside of Girls Wear Pearls (Hard Spun) and heavy favorite Libby Lloyd (Into Mischief), as the timer clicked through fractions of :22.98 and :45.75. Around the bend, she made her move alongside the favorite, but upon straightening for home, it was she who found an extra gear.
Rum Twist (Mandaloun), under Paco López, tried to mount a challenge but ran greenly and ducked inward in the closing stages. Dotsy maintained her advantage and crossed the line 2 3/4 lengths clear in 1:36.07, returning $25.02 for every $2 wagered. Revenge of the Sis (Girvin) finished third, while Libby Lloyd faded to fourth.
Bred by Scott Pierce and Debbie Pierce, Dotsy is a half-sister to stakes winner Dirt Monster (Line of David), out of Coqui (Fusaichi Pegasus). Her victory awarded her 10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and, through the Dirt Dozen program, a $30,000 credit toward entry fees for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
Grabowski admitted that the Breeders’ Cup had not originally been on his radar and that he would need to discuss the possibility with Carmouche. Now, he has every reason to reconsider: Dotsy answered the bell with authority in her graded debut. Keeneland looms on the horizon for both winners, with decisions pending and performances that soundly invite them to take the next step.
