Valid Heads to Breeders' Cup, Lochte Possible
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Trainer Marcus Vitali got what he was looking for in the $75,000 Eight Miles West Stakes Oct. 11 at Gulfstream Park West—a sign that Crossed Sabres Farm's Valid deserved a trip to Santa Anita Park for a possible start in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) on Oct. 31.
"That was my objective here," Vitali said after Valid's half-length victory over stablemate Midnight Cello at the former Calder Race Course. "He came through. I'll talk to the owner, Mrs. (Carolyn) Vogel, and we'll come up with a game plan. I think we're excited to try the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile."
Valid captured the Monmouth Cup (gr. II) three starts back and was coming off a front-running allowance score at Gulfstream Park. He broke well from his rail post and tracked early pacesetter Decisive Moment and outside stalker Csaba around the first turn and along the backstretch.
Crossed Sabres Farm's Midnight Cello, who was reserved from off the pace, made a sweeping outside move on the far turn to challenge for the lead at the top of the stretch as the early pacesetters dropped back. As his stablemate loomed boldly to the outside, Valid was sent through an opening on the inside by Orlando Bocachica, setting the stage for a showdown between the pair of Vitali-trained runners.
Valid, the 7-10 favorite in a field of six, had plenty of energy in reserve after saving ground throughout the mile stakes and wore down Midnight Cello, who held second by a length over a late-charging Turco Bravo, a multiple-stakes winner from Chile making his first U.S. start.
"We tried a different tactic today. We wanted to see what we had. I told Orlando to let the speed go," Vitali said. "We also had Midnight Cello in there. He scared me for a minute there. But Orlando said he had plenty left, and Jara said he was all out."
Valid ran a mile in a slow 1:39.30, capturing his third victory in his last four starts .
"He did everything so easy today. I really just waited for him," Bocachica said. "When I asked him a little, he did it all on his own."
The 4-year-old gelded son of Medaglia d'Oro was purchased last October for $115,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed and horses of racing age sale. Darley had purchased the Virginia-bred gelding for $500,000 as a yearling.
Vitali is hoping to send two Crossed Sabres horses to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup. He is scheduled to saddle Lochte for Gulfstream Park West's featured eighth race Oct. 12, a $44,000 open allowance at one mile on turf.
Lochte, also by Medaglia d'Oro, is coming off a victory in the The Vid Stakes at Gulfstream Sept. 13 and earned grade I credentials last February with his victory in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap. He was second in the March 8 Frank E. Kilroe (gr. IT) at Santa Anita and third April 11 in the Maker's 46 Mile (gr. IT) at Keeneland, although his form faltered a bit over the summer. If he runs well Sunday, Vitali will likely enter him in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT).
"He was a little off this summer at Monmouth," Vitali said. "I don't think he liked the track there. I ran him in the last couple of races to see if I have him back on track. I expect him to run well (Sunday). He's doing good. If he runs well we'll discuss it (the Breeders' Cup) and make a decision."