After trading decisions this season at Turfway Park, Grace On Grace and My Lil Punky get a rubber match in Saturday night’s $125,000 Valdale Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies on Tapeta.
Grace On Grace, trained by Larry Demeritte, and My Lil Punky, trained by John Ennis, both were maiden winners on dirt in Kentucky last fall. My Lil Punky won a maiden special weight at Keeneland after previously running second to the well-regarded Muhimma in a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs, while Grace On Grace scored her dirt win in her sixth career start, running for a maiden-claiming tag of $30,000 at Churchill.
The two met for the first time in a six-furlong allowance on Dec. 13 at Turfway. My Lil Punky flashed speed inside through early splits of 21.83 seconds for the quarter and 45.03 for the half, shaking off pressure and kicking clear to win by two lengths. Grace On Grace, seventh after that half, rallied for that second-place position
My Lil Punky continued to show consistency in her figures with that win, posting a Beyer Speed Figure of 67. She had earned the same number in two maiden efforts and a career-best 68 when second to Muhimma. Grace On Grace, meanwhile, took a step forward on the Tapeta, earning a 63 Beyer to improve her career best from the 57 in her maiden win.
My Lil Punky was sent away favored in the Jan. 1 Gowell Stakes, again going six furlongs. She broke alertly but got pressure throughout the race from Wisconsin Gal, with a duel likely taking the starch out of her despite more moderate fractions of 23.40 and 47.87.
Racing in that field of six, Grace On Grace was in third after the half. The filly angled out in the stretch and surged past My Lil Punky, then held off a rallying Les Is Best by three-quarters of a length. My Lil Punky was another two back in third. Grace On Grace earned a 65 Beyer, while My Lil Punky bounced to a 58.
My Lil Punky is drawn on the rail for the Valdale, and there is plenty of additional speed from Magical Bette and Brindi, who turned in strong efforts at Turfway off barn changes. Situated in post 6 in the field of seven, Grace On Grace is ideally drawn to watch the race develop.
Magical Bette is the morning-line favorite, as she brings in the best numbers of the field, earning Beyers of 77 in both of her outings. The filly chased before finishing third against males in her debut on the Aqueduct dirt last June for Bill Mott, beaten by eventual Grade 3 winner Mentee and the highly regarded Colloquial.
Magical Bette did not resurface until December at Turfway for Wesley Ward. There, she flashed speed and kicked clear to win by 5 1/4 lengths.
Brindi made three starts sprinting on turf last year for Christophe Clement, riding a strong effort to finish behind future Grade 3 winner Abientot before scoring her maiden win at Delaware. Subsequently sold at the Keeneland November sale, she made her first start for Kelsey Danner at Turfway, winning by three lengths on Jan. 17. She earned a Beyer of 68 for that effort and owns a career high of 70.
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