Valley View Stakes 2024 Analysis

By Jarrod Horak

The Grade 2, $350,000 Valley View Stakes will be run at Keeneland on Friday, October 25, 2024. The full field of 3-year-old fillies will travel one mile on the turf course and Les Reys (FR) is the 5-2 morning line favorite. The Valley View goes as the ninth race on Friday with a scheduled post time of 5:16 p.m. EDT.

Valley View Stakes field: 1 – Opera Mundi (8-1), 2 – Poolside With Slim (5-1), 3 – Memorialize (10-1), 4 – Les Reys (5-2), 5 – Kalispera (15-1), 6 – Sakura Blossom (30-1), 7 – Pharoah’s Wine (30-1), 8 – Buttercream Babe (9-2), 9 – Dancing N Dixie (12-1), 10 – Uphill Dance (20-1), 11 – Nice as Pie (10-1), 12 – Simply in Front (8-1), Also-Eligibles: 13 – Maxisuperfly (30-1), 14 – Whiskey Decision (15-1), 15 – Strike When Ready (20-1), 16 – Kehoe Beach (8-1).

Valley View Stakes Analysis

 #8 Buttercream Babe (9-2) stretches back out after breaking slow and splitting a 12-horse field in the Music City (G2) at Kentucky Downs Sept. 7. I like her tactical speed in turf routes and Irad Ortiz Jr. should put her in a contending spot from the outset.

#2 Poolside With Slim (5-1) has early-pressing speed and might be able to take advantage of her inner draw. Friday’s rider Frankie Dettori put her in a great stalking spot from the inside post in the Penn Oaks May 31 and she won that race by a head. She was an even fourth as the beaten favorite in the Tepin June 29, and was fourth again at 8-1 odds in the Winter Memories Sept. 13. The race flow might be in her favor and she can bounce back in her second start after a layoff.

#4 Les Reys (5-2) was 6-1 from the inside post in the Winter Memories and she finished with interest to win that slow early/fast late event Sept. 13. Flavien Prat is her new rider and she can win this from off the pace for Christophe Clement if she avoids a bounce in her second start in this country.

#1 Opera Mundi (8-1) is the mystery horse making her first start in this country for Brendan Walsh and he has strong stats with shippers to this country. Tyler Gaffalione is enjoying a fantastic meet and this one sports seven Turfway works for this. She won two extended sprints in France last year and was blanked in all four outings this year.

#3 Memorialize (10-1) showed promise last year for Graham Motion and this is her first start since winning the Tepin Stakes more than eleven months ago. Her winning rider Manny Franco has been clicking with this barn recently and she drilled a Fair Hill bullet for this Sept. 19.   

Valley View Stakes Wagers

#8 to win

Trifecta key 8/1-2-3-4

Trifecta 1-2-3-4/8/1-2-3-4

Valley View Stakes Video