Rachel's Valentina

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Rachels Valentina
Rachel's Valentina GI winner.jpg
Rachel's Valentina as a two-year-old at Saratoga
Sire Bernardini
Grandsire A.P. Indy
Dam Rachel Alexandra
Damsire Medaglia d'Oro
Sex Mare
Foaled2013
CountryUnited States
Colour Bay
Breeder Stonestreet Stables
Owner Stonestreet Stables
Trainer Todd A. Pletcher
Record6: 2-2-0
Earnings US$738,800
Major wins
Spinaway Stakes 2015 Breeders' Cup placing:
2nd Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (2015)

Rachel's Valentina (foaled February 12, 2013 in Kentucky) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for being the second foal out of the 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. She is also known for winning the grade I Spinaway Stakes as a two-year-old.

Contents

Background

Rachel's Valentina is a bay mare with a small, heart shaped star on her forehead, and three white socks (one on both hind legs and one on her right front leg). She was bred and raced by Stonestreet Stables, who also raced and owned her dam, Rachel Alexandra. Her sire, 2006 Preakness Stakes winner Bernardini, has also sired grade I winners Stay Thirsty, Alpha, Cavorting, and Greenpointcrusader, among others. Rachel’s Valentina holds the distinction of being the only living offspring of two Preakness Stakes winners. She was sent into training with multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher.

2015: two-year-old season

On August 2, Rachel's Valentina started in a six furlong Maiden Special Weight at Saratoga, with Eclipse Award-winning jockey, John Velasquez up. She was sent off as the even money favorite in the field eight fillies. She started a touch slowly, but moved up quickly on the turn and took the lead in the stretch to win by two lengths, in a time of 1:10.39. [1] It was then announced that she would start in the grade I Spinaway Stakes [2] against a promising field of fillies, including Adirondack Stakes runner-up Tonasah. Velasquez was again aboard her, and she started as the 8-5 favorite. After starting a touch slowly again, she moved up to third, and stalked the leaders until the top of the stretch, when she confronted Constellation for the lead. She then took the lead and won by a length over the fast-closing Tap To It. Her final time for the seven furlongs was 1:23.10. Pletcher stated after the race: "I thought she ran fantastic. Actually, she put herself into the race a little more than I thought she would, but she seemed to be tracking those horses well, and getting a little dirt as well. I felt like, turning for home, knowing her style and watching her train, that she was going to keep coming. I've always felt like the farther she goes, the better she gets, and I think that's proven to be true." [3] Pletcher announced that Rachel's Valentina would simply train up to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, preferring to skip the final group of prep races with her. [4]

In the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, she was made the second choice behind the undefeated filly Songbird. Rachel's Valentina broke evenly, and moved up to second, a length behind the front-running Songbird. She stayed in that position until the final turn, when Songbird began to pull away from the rest of the field. Rachel's Valentina was moving well, but was no match for Songbird, finishing five and three-fourths lengths behind her in second. [5]

2016: three-year-old season and retirement

As a 3 year old, Rachel's Valentina returned in the GI Ashland Stakes after a six-month layoff where she faced then undefeated Cathryn Sophia, Carina Mia, Weep No More and Banree. Rachel's Valentina broke a touch slowly while Cathryn Sophia and Carina Mia went to the lead. Rachel's Valentina then moved up and stalked a half length on the outside of Carina Mia with Cathryn Sophia sitting third. The three fillies battled around the turn and into the homestretch. At the top of the stretch Carina Mia gave way Cathryn Sophia had a short lead over Rachel's Valentina, but Rachel's Valentina battled back and took the lead at the 16th pole, but Weep no More at 30/1 made a strong move and passed her in the final strides and won by a neck over Rachel's Valentina. [6] "It was a tough field," Banke said of the Ashland line-up. "They may have moved (on the front end) a little bit sooner than I would have liked them to, but she was coming back off a layoff. It was a good effort. We were watching her closely afterward because she's very special; we don't want to overtax her." As for making her first start in a grade I off more than a five-month layoff and then heading to the Oaks, Banke said: "We thought she was a little light going into the Breeders' Cup and we wanted to have for the summer and later in the fall," she said. "We wanted to make sure she was 150% before we put her back in training. So we didn't feel the need to bring her back early. We actually weren't even planning on the Oaks, but she's put herself there." [7] Rachel's Valentina finished 6th in the GI Kentucky Oaks. After a good rest following an uncharacteristic run in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks, Rachel's Valentina's next start was the GI Mother Goose. She was hit and stumbled badly at the start and was never a factor finishing 5th, her trainer Todd Pletcher stated after the race : "I really don't have a great explanation (for Rachel's Valentina)," Pletcher said: "It looked like she was in a decent spot, but Johnny seemed like he had to start asking her for a lot earlier than you would expect him to. We'll see how she comes out of it and try to regroup." [8] Rachel's Valentina was pointing to the GI Test Stakes on August 6, but instead she retired. On Stonestreet Farms website it said Rachel's Valentina "will now retire from racing, sound and injury-free." [9]

As a broodmare

Rachel's Valentina gave birth to her first foal on February 18, 2018, a bay colt by Curlin with a star and two socks on his hind legs. He was named Alejandro in 2020. [10] Rachel's Valentina then visited Pioneerof the Nile, and on April 4, 2019, she gave birth to a bay filly with a star an snip. [11] In 2019 she was re-bred to Curlin and was confirmed to be in foal on November 30, 2019.

She produced a colt by Into Mischief in 2022, and a filly by Quality Road in 2023. [12] [13]

Race record

DateTrackRaceGradeDistanceFinishTime
8/2/2015 Saratoga Race Course MaidenMaiden6 furlongs 1st1:10.39
9/5/2015 Saratoga Race Course Spinaway Stakes I7 furlongs1st1:23.10
10/31/2015 Keeneland Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies I1 1 /16 miles2nd1:42.73
4/9/2016 Keeneland Ashland Stakes I1 1/16 miles2nd1:43.57
5/6/2016 Churchill Downs Kentucky Oaks I1 1/8 miles6th1:50.53
7/2/2016 Belmont Park Mother Goose Stakes I1 1/16 miles5th1:41.01

Pedigree

Pedigree of Rachel's Valentina
Sire
Bernardini
dkb/br. 2003		 A. P. Indy
b. 1989		 Seattle Slew
b. 1974		 Bold Reasoning
My Charmer
Cara Rafaela
gr. 1993		 Secretariat
Lassie Dear
CARA RAFAELA
b. 1980		Quiet American
b. 1986		 Fappiano
Demure
Oil Fable
gr. 1986		 Spectacular Bid
Northern Fable
Dam
Rachel Alexandra
b. 2006		 Medaglia d'Oro
b. 1999		 El Prado
b. 1985		 Sadler's Wells
Lady Capulet
Cappucino Bay
b. 1989		 Bailjumper
Dubbed In
Lotta Kim
b. 2001		Roar
b. 1993		 Forty Niner
Wild Applause
Kim's Blues
b. 1993		Cure the Blues
Early Decision

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References

  1. ↑ "Rachel's Valentina Sparkles in Debut". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  2. ↑ Rachel's Valentina tonasah head spinaway Blood Horse [ dead link ]
  3. ↑ "Rachel's Valentina Solid in Spinaway". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Rachel's Valentina training up to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - Daily Racing Form". drf.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Songbird Scores in BC Juvenile Fillies". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Weep No More Stuns Ashland at 30-1". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Stonestreet Has Three of a Kind for Oaks". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Off the Tracks Wires Mother Goose". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Stonestreet: Rachel's Valentina Retired". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Rachel's Valentina on Facebook". Facebook . Archived from the original on April 30, 2022.[ user-generated source ]
  11. ↑ "Rachel's Valentina on Facebook". Facebook . Archived from the original on April 30, 2022.[ user-generated source ]
  12. ↑ "Rachel's Valentina". www.facebook.com.[ user-generated source ]
  13. ↑ "Rachel's Valentina on Facebook". Facebook . Archived from the original on April 30, 2022.[ user-generated source ]
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