The betting public was spot on in making Valdonna a 3-5 favourite in Thursday’s lone division of the Simcoe Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies. After all, she came first over and cruised to a stakes record performance in the $209,871 affair.
With David Miller at the reins, Valdonna was able to drop in fourth while Bluff fired to the front and supplied the field with early fractions of :27.2 and :56.2. Valdonna commenced a first over rally on the way to the mid-way point, and she was making steady gains on the leader while racing on the rim around the final turn.
Bluff still led the way at the three-quarter pole in 1:24.4, but Valdonna blew right past her as the field entered the lane. Valdonna’s :27.3 closing quarter was good enough to earn her the win by 3-1/2 lengths over Miss Paris. Dream On Hanover grabbed the show dough. The 1:52.4 clocking shaved two-fifths of a second off the former stakes record of 1:53.1 established by Pure Ivory in 2006.
“They [trainer Jim Takter and Myron Bell of Brittany Farms] told me not to get in a big hurry with her, just kind of let her do it on her own and not to rush her,” said driver David Miller. “She raced very well.”
Brittany Farms of Versailles, KY owns the filly, who now boasts a 4-2-0 record from 12 starts this season after going 0-for-1 as a freshman. The lion’s share of the Simcoe Stakes purse boosted her bankroll to $253,988.
(Quotes from WEG)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.