Turfway: 2023 Valdale Stakes Exotics Plays

A total of 11 sophomore fillies will travel 6 1/2 furlongs on the synthetic at Turfway Park in Saturday’s $125,000 Valdale S. The competitive dash attracted some good-looking prospects, and I feel that the affair is an intriguing betting endeavor.

The Mark Casse-conditioned #6 Strokes (7-2) has shown marked improvement since adding blinkers three back and gets the slight edge in the tilt. By Caravaggio, the Irish-bred displayed little in her first pair of appearances but graduated like a good thing at Woodbine in her third outing, and first since being equipped with blinkers. A clear second in a subsequent allowance heat while facing the boys in her juvenile finale, the gray miss came back strong for her 2023 unveiling when dominating allowance foes at Gulfstream Park in January.

Strokes will make her local bow on Saturday and will surely benefit from putting in a pair of local half-mile drills in advance of Saturday, including a bullet move two back. The filly has tactical speed as well as a fine turn of foot, and she will likely track the pace from the second flight early before being asked for her best run in the stretch. Luan Machado inherits the ride.

#3 Liliesformillie (5-1) has displayed a fine closing burst in two races at this meeting for conditioner Sarah Hamilton. By Pioneerof the Nile, the dark bay three-year-old broke her maiden in impressive fashion two back prior to being elevated to the win in the Gowell S. last time out. The $125,000 yearling purchase shows a trio of useful morning works as of late and will be fit and ready for her second stakes try on the oval. The Kentucky-bred will save ground to the turn for home before unleashing her closing burst beneath Declan Cannon.

Wesley Ward’s #9 Murky (5-2) was a fantastic allowance heroine while making her local debut in January, responding to both the surface change as well as the removal of blinkers. The dark bay daughter of Violence took command prior to the turn for home in that event before powering clear with ease late, and she is a surefire win contender with even minor improvement on Saturday. The Lael Stables homebred will always be in range with regular pilot Gerardo Corrales in the stirrups once again.

Valdale Wagers

• $20 win: #6 Strokes ($20)
• $3 exacta box: 3,6,9 ($18)
• $2 trifecta box: 3,6,9 ($12)