Fair Grounds: Valadorna Heads Field of 11 For Dec. 26 Tiffany Lass

By Ryan Martin —-

VALADORNA HEADS FIELD OF ELEVEN FOR DEC. 26 TIFFANY LASS

NEW ORLEANS (December 21, 2017) – Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Valadorna is slated as the 5-2 morning line favorite when she takes on ten other fillies and mares in the 53rd running of the $50,000 Tiffany Lass Stakes, a one mile and 70 yard event run over the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots main track scheduled as the ninth race on Tuesday, Dec. 26.

Breaking from post six under Brian Hernandez, Jr., the 3-year-old daughter of Curlin has never finished off the board in seven career starts, and enters the race off a decisive 5¾-length allowance victory over the New Orleans oval where she defeated fellow Tiffany Lass entrant Song of Spring (James Graham, post two). Valadorna was second in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies behind Champagne Room as a 2-year-old and began her 2017 campaign at the Fair Grounds where she won her 3-year-old debut as the overwhelming 1-5 favorite against allowance company. In her next start, she was third beaten 3¾ lengths behind Farrell in the Gr. II Rachel Alexandra on Feb. 25. Following this effort, she began preparation for a potential start in the Grade I Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, but those plans were scrapped when she emerged from an April workout with an injured left hind leg.
Valadorna did not see racing action until November, where she was second behind Mannerly (Corey Lanerie, post one) who also is entered in Tuesday’s race and bears the same gold and burgundy colors of Stonestreet Stables.

“We’re very happy with her,” said trainer Mark Casse’s assistant David Carroll. “She’s been great coming back ever since her allowance at Churchill where she finished second to Mannerly and that was a good race. She came back (Dec. 8) and won another allowance race (at the Fair Grounds) convincingly. This race might be a tad quick but the (Gr. III Houston) Ladies Classic (at Sam Houston on Jan. 28) is on our radar and it’s five weeks from this race so if whatever reason she doesn’t run her A-game, we have five weeks to prepare for that race. Having said that, she looks great and has been acting great so we’re hoping for another big race out of her.”

Casse also will be represented by JSM Equine LLC’s Alotta Skirt, who recently transferred to the Casse barn from former conditioner Eddie Kenneally. The 4-year-old daughter of Candy Ride (Arg) will be making her first start since a May 2 allowance race at Churchill Downs, where she was fifth beaten 8 lengths behind graded stakes placed Apologynotaccepted. Jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr. has the mount.

The remainder of the Tiffany Lass consists of Champagne Problems (Calvin Borel, post three), Steel Cut (Mitchell Murrill, post four), Motown Lady (Declan Cannon, post five), Thoughtless (Marcelino Pedroza, post seven), Show Stealer (Miguel Mena, post nine), Sky Flower (Florent Geroux, post 10) and Promise of Spring (Robby Albarado, post 11).

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 11 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 146th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 105 thrunning of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 18, 2017 through March 31, 2018. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.