Les Reys Aims to Stay Unbeaten in U.S. in Valley View

After winning her first United States start last month, Les Reys  looks to remain unbeaten in her new home country as she headlines a contentious, overflow field of 3-year-old fillies in the $350,000 Valley View Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland Oct. 25.

After a one-length score in the Prix Volterra at Longchamp June 9—her second straight win—the daughter of Penny's Picnic  was acquired by West Point Thoroughbreds, Peter Leidel, and Winters Equine. Sent to trainer Christophe Clement, Les Reys displayed a strong turn of foot while splitting rivals to win her stateside debut in the Winter Memories Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Sept. 13.

With the strong showing and 3-for-4 record in mile races, Les Reys sits as the 5-2 favorite on the morning line from post 4.

Trainer Brendan Walsh would like to emulate Les Reys' U.S. debut with his own filly, Opera Mundi . Winner of Deauville's Prix Zeddaan last year, Ecurie des Charmes' daughter of Kingman   has had a tougher go in 2024, finishing off the board in four starts. A change of scenery could be just what the French One Thousand Guineas (G1) participant needs as she is listed at 8-1.

Among the leading hopefuls for longtime American-based runners are Glenn Bromagen II, Patrick Lewis, and Sandra Bromagen's stakes winner Poolside With Slim , who was fourth in the Winter Memories, and a trio exiting the Sept. 7 Music City Stakes (G2T) at Kentucky Downs.

Three Diamonds Farm's Buttercream Babe  was the 3-1 favorite that day after placing against the boys in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course a month prior. Off slowly in the Music City, the Twirling Candy   filly moved up on the outside on the track's sweeping turn but finished sixth, beaten three lengths, after steadying a couple of times in the stretch.

Video: AGS Music City S. (G2T)

The first time she steadied in the 6 1/2-furlong affair was when Colebrook Farms' Simply in Front  drifted over at Kentucky Downs' awkward midstretch partial turn while flying by on her outside, winning the race by a half-length. Although it appeared Simply in Front was going by regardless, she is listed at 8-1 on the Valley View morning line compared to Buttercream Babe's 9-2. Pharoah's Wine , who finished a half-length behind Buttercream Babe, is 30-1 in this spot.

Full Field of 2-Year-Old Fillies Compete in Myrtlewood

One race earlier, 12 2-year-old fillies will cover six furlongs on dirt in the $200,000 Myrtlewood Stakes.

Mrs. John Magnier and Mrs. Paul Shanahan's White Sands , an Into Mischief   half sister to champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior  , makes her first start against fillies since her debut after defeating males in the Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes at Prairie Meadows and finishing third in the Best Pal (G3) at Del Mar.

Both Mike Rutherford's Glee  and C2 Racing Stable, Kuehne Racing, and Mark Corrado's Andrea  enter off open-length stakes victories. Exline-border Racing, Michael Jawl, and Aaron Kennedy's Trust Fund Philly  is the 3-1 favorite off a 3 1/2-length debut score at Churchill Downs Sept. 27.