Valid inches past Bradester in the Monmouth Cup. Photo By Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO.
From a Monmouth Park release
Multiple graded stakes winner Valid will make his 2015 Monmouth Park debut when he heads to the post in the $75,000 Majestic Light Stakes on Saturday, first of three days of racing this weekend at the Shore racetrack.
“We’ll look to plot the same path this year as we did last year,” said Marcus Vitali, who conditions the 5-year-old gelding by Medaglia d’Oro. “He shows up every time. He’s a hard trying horse and he’ll show that again on Saturday.”
Last year’s path sure proved a successful one, with Valid finishing third in the Salvator Mile (G3), just a length and a half behind Itsmyluckyday; winning the Monmouth Cup (G2) on Haskell Day; and then third in the Iselin (G3) as the 4-5 favorite. Should things go to plan this year, Valid will be looking at the Salvator Mile on July 3, Monmouth Cup on Aug. 2 and the Iselin on Aug. 30.
A Crossed Sabres Farm color-bearer, Valid wrapped up 2014 with two more wins, both in south Florida, where he wintered. So far this year he captured the Fred Hooper (G3) on Feb. 7 and then third in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2) beaten a length by Honor Code and Private Zone.
He’ll enter Saturday’s mile and 70 yards Majestic Light off a solid runner-up finish in an allowance at Parx on May 2, where he was beaten a neck at the wire.
“He’s had a couple of strong gallops since that race,” Vitali said. “I think with the post position he’ll be sharp right out of the gate. There’s a couple in there that look like they’ve got early speed, so I hope to be sitting just off of that in a good spot.”
Jockey Orlando Bocachica, who was aboard for all of Valid’s Monmouth starts last year, will be back aboard on Saturday with the duo breaking from post 2 in a field of 11.
The Majestic Light Stakes goes as race 11 on a 12-race program. Monmouth gates open at 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m.
