Albany, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2016) — Lady Valeur, shipped in from Southern California by trainer Patty Gallagher, ran the others down in the stretch to win the $50,000 Miss America stakes by 1 and ¼ lengths. The race was for fillies and mares, threes years old and upward, at a distance of 1 and 1/16 miles and was completed in 1:43.35. Lady Valeur was well placed just off the speed by jockey Ricardo Gonzalez and waited until mid-stretch to rally to the front and then held off the others with a driving finish. “The ride played out beautiful. I sat right behind the speed just like we talked about and she relaxed really good for me. And I knew when she came to the stretch she was going to have a lot of run. She kind of waited for them and when they came she kicked back in. Trainer Patrick Gallagher said in the paddock that he thinks the 12 is going to clear and drop over and he did so I just sat right behind her. And it was beautiful,” said winning jockey Ricardo Gonzalez.
Mon Petite, ridden by Abel Cedillo, was never far back and came on late to take second. She was followed home by Hijra, who needed to swing wide for room, but still finished willingly for third with Catalino Martinez aboard. Glory, a horse trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden by lead jockey Juan Hernandez, set the pace all the way to the stretch but weakened quickly after the second turn and finished off the board. Lady Valeur paid $4.40 for her efforts today.
Trainer Patty Gallagher instructed Ricardo Gonzalez to let Lady Valeur run her race and it couldn’t have worked out any better. “Ricky rode her very good, it was nice. He put her in a perfect spot and after that she was good enough. We thought today if someone wants to go then let her stay comfortable if she is in and run her own race,” said Gallagher. The race, originally scheduled for the turf, was switched to the Tapeta due to rain, but this didn’t affect Gallagher’s decision to run. “Turf to dirt is a big gamble and it has been for years. But turf horses seem to take to this course and just run on it like it is grass.”
Tomorrow, December 11, will be closing day of the Fall Meet and Dollar Day with $1 Beers, $1 Hot Dogs, $1 General Admission, $1 General Parking, and $1 Programs. Live racing will resume for the Winter/Spring Meet on December 26 and run through June 18. Opening week will be highlighted with the annual Wall Calendar giveaway on January 1.