After racing behind rivals most of the way, Mark Valeski altered course to
the outside in midstretch and charged to the lead in Saturday’s Grade 3,
$148,500
Mineshaft at Fair Grounds. The Larry Jones-trained colt went on to post a
comfortable one-length tally with jockey Rosie Napravnik, returning to the
winner’s circle in his second attempt since capturing last year’s Grade 2 Peter
Pan at Belmont Park.
A Brereton Jones homebred, Mark Valeski established himself as a Kentucky
Derby prospect when finishing a nose second in his stakes debut, the Grade 2
Risen Star 12 months ago at Fair Grounds. His connections elected to skip the
Kentucky Derby and point toward June’s Belmont Stakes following a half-length
second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and Mark Valeski looked like a very
promising prospect when prepping with a sharp 1 1/4-length score in the Peter
Pan in May. However, he headed to the sidelines with an injury and did not
return to action until the January 19 Louisiana Handicap, finishing a close
second.
The four-year-old son of Proud Citizen improved off the comebacker on
Saturday. After breaking sharply from post 2, Mark Valeski was guided to the
rail, just behind Hero of Order, who showed the way into the first turn while
being chased by Infrattini to his outside. The pacesetter recorded the opening
quarter-mile in :25 1/5 and the half-mile in :49 3/5, with an eager Mark Valeski
under a snug hold while being boxed in down the backstretch.
Mark Valeski continued to race in tight quarters through the far turn as Hero
of Honor reached the three-quarters mark in 1:14 4/5. Golden Ticket, who raced
next to Mark Valeski in fourth during the early stages, advanced along the
outside rounding the bend to make it three abreast as the leaders entered the
stretch drive. Mark Valeski was still trapped down on the inside with nowhere to
run.
Napravnik shifted her mount several paths to the outside passing the
three-sixteenths pole for clear sailing and Mark Valeski instantly responded,
surging to the front in a commanding fashion. He completed the 1 1/16-mile
distance in 1:44 4/5.
The 4-5 favorite returned $3.80, $2.60 and $2.10 to his supporters.
Cool Street, who brought a four-race winning streak into his stakes debut,
rallied boldly from off the pace late to edge 5-2 second choice Golden Ticket by
a neck for second at 14-1 odds. Golden Ticket was in turn 1 1/4 lengths better
than Hero Of Order, who was followed under the wire by Infrattini, Macho Bull
and Raison d’Etat.
With the $90,000 payday, Mark Valeski has now earned $540,952 from a 8-4-3-0
career line.
Mark Valeski is the only black-type winner out of the Grade 1-placed multiple
stakes-winning Fortunate Prospect mare Pocho’s Dream Girl. His third dam is the
Hail to Reason mare Silver True, who captured the 1966 Spinaway Stakes and would
go on in the breeding shed to produce dual Grade 1 victor and sire Silver Buck.
This female family is also responsible for champion Silver Spoon and Grade 1
winners State Dinner and Banquet Table.
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