Quidura Reigns for Motion in Valley View

A whole seven days had gone by since trainer Graham Motion had won a graded stakes at Keeneland. On a damp day, Quidura made sure to put an end to her conditioner's mini drought.

Of the 14 graded stakes that have been contested during the Keeneland fall meet, runners from the Motion barn have prevailed in four, with Quidura the latest to maintain the Herringswell Stables hot streak courtesy of her 1 1/4-length triumph in the $150,000 Pin Oak Valley View (gr. IIIT) Oct. 21. 

Since taking the Oct. 7 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. I) with Dancing Rags on the meet's opening day, Motion has also saddled Miss Temple City to victory in the Oct. 8 Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) and won the Oct. 14 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes (gr. IIIT) with Miss Ella prior to Quidura earning her first graded win in just her fourth start. Motion currently sits one win behind Mike Maker in the overall Keeneland standings as he aims to cap off an already banner run with his second career fall meet title.

"We're very lucky to have had some really nice horses for these spots," Motion said from his base at Fair Hill Training Center. "It's a meet we always seem to do well at and I like to think our horses seem to do well in the fall. I love coming to Keeneland. I love pointing for these races and I'm fortunate to have a great crew there."

Out of the Acatenango mare Quetena, Quidura is now unbeaten in two North American starts since beginning her career in Germany. As impressed as she left Motion when she won a Sept. 18 allowance race at Belmont Park in her first try under his care, the bay daughter of Dubawi inspired another level of confidence when she rated in an outside path fourth behind pacesetter Sky My Sky  through fractions of :24.36 and :49.70 before collaring My Impression in midstretch.

With Junior Alvarado urging the 7-2 shot on as she drifted to the far outside, Quidura had enough to hold off Linda trying to sneak through inside of her en route to covering the 1 1/16-miles in 1:45.86 over a course rated soft.

"She was very impressive the first time we ran her. She really won for fun at Belmont," Motion said. "I know they had high hopes for her in Europe and then she bled in one of her races. It made sense to bring her over here. I'm just fortunate to be on the right end of having a nice horse sent over."

Quidura paid $9.80, $5.40, and $3.60 across the board. 

My Impression held for third, with race favorite Azaelia never threatening as she came home ninth.

Quidura improved her record to three wins from four starts with $141,777 in earnings. Motion said the plan is for her to return for a 4-year-old campaign.