LEXINGTON, Ky. — Withdrawn from last week’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) ostensibly in search of an easier spot, Lady Prancealot justified the wisdom of that decision with an off-the-pace victory in Friday’s $150,000 Valley View (G3) for three-year-old fillies at Keeneland.
Ridden for the first time by Joe Bravo, Lady Prancealot was reserved racing in 10th down the backside while John Velazquez attempted to nurse 19-10 favorite Blowout to a wire-to-wire win in much the same way he did riding Cambier Parc in last week’s Queen Elizabeth. The pace was not unduly taxing: :23.72, :48.26, and 1:13.57.
Meanwhile, Lady Prancealot endured no traffic issues and began advancing on the outside approaching the quarter pole.
“You gotta get the trip with a dead closer,” said Richard Baltas, trainer of Lady Prancealot.
Blowout clung to a lead passing the furlong pole with several challengers attempting to close the gap, but Lady Prancealot had the best closing kick as she swooped to take the lead inside the final sixteenth and won by three parts of a length. The final time for 1 1/16 miles on the turf rated good was 1:43.25.
“The whole race, she broke away from there, she breathed, was relaxed, and felt comfortable,” said Bravo, who also won the 2018 Valley View with Colonia. “We turned for home and she kinda knew what she had to do.”
Owned by Jules Ivarone, Michael Ivarone, and Jerry McClanahan, Lady Prancealot paid $22.60. Blowout just lasted for second by a nose over The Mackem Bullet.
Twice stakes-placed at two, Lady Pracealot was beaten narrowly in the Providencia (G3) and Senorita (G3) at Santa Anita before taking the Honeymoon (G3) in early June. Third in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) to Cambier Parc, Lady Prancealot was a dull sixth in the 11-furlong Jockey Club Oaks at Belmont last month. Her record now stands at 16-4-4-3, $367,841.
Bred in Ireland by Tally-Ho Stud, Lady Pracealot is by Sir Prancealot and out of Naqrah, a Haatef half-sister to Group 2 winner Baqah. The latter produced Grade 1 winner Almanaar. Lady Prancealot’s fourth dam was 1986 champion juvenile filly Brave Raj.
