B G Warrior (41-1!) holds off Murky to take Valdale
Turfway Park stakes recap by Kevin Kerstein (Coady Photography photo)
FLORENCE, Ky. (Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023) – Keith Grass’ 3-year-old filly B G Warrior held off a determined challenge from heavy favorite Murky to pull a shocking 41-1 upset victory in Saturday’s $125,000 Valdale Stakes at Turfway Park.
Trained by Ron Kahles and ridden to victory by David Haldar, B G Warrior provided her connections with redemption in the Valdale after she crossed the wire first on New Year’s Eve in the $125,000 Gowell Stakes but was disqualified and placed second due to stretch interference.
In the Valdale, B G Warrior was hustled to the lead and was pressured early on her outside by Strokes (IRE). In the early stages of the race, 4-5 favorite Murky sat third, just off the dueling leaders, who recorded a swift quarter-mile fraction of :22.30 and half-mile time of :45.08. At the top of the stretch as Strokes began to retreat, jockey Gerardo Corrales began to ask Murky for her best run while Haldar cut the corner on the fleet-footed B G Warrior who continued to battle at the rail. At the eighth-pole, B G Warrior began to draw clear and recorded a gritty three-quarters of a length win.
B G Warrior completed 6 ½ furlongs in 1:17.65 over the Tapeta surface.
Bettors were rewarded with B G Warrior, who returned $85.76, $23.16 and $10.74. Murky paid $3.08 and $3.06 while Tammy Tap Tap Tap and jockey Rafael Hernandez finished a closing third and returned $5.36.
B G Warrior is a 3-year-old daughter of Run Away and Hide out of the Any Given Saturday mare Biogio’s Gift. She was bred in Kentucky by the Lou Dunn Diekemper Trust.
Jill Jitterbug finished fourth followed by Always At Ease, T Max, Moon Magic Chrissy, Liliesformillie and Strokes.
B G Warrior improved her overall record to 10-2-4-0 and earned $74,616 to boost her career earnings to $138,531.
Racing at Turfway Park will continue Wednesday with an eight-race card. First post is 5:55 p.m. (all times Eastern). For more information, visit www.TurfwayPark.com.
FINAL CONDITION BOOK FOR WINTER/SPRING MEET RELEASED, FEATURES $700,000 JEFF RUBY STEAKS, RENAMED $125,000 WEBN FROG STAKES – The final condition book for the 2023 Winter/Spring Meet has been released and is available at:https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownloadAction.cfm?sn=CB-TP-20230302-20230401D
The March condition book is highlighted by the March 25, $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III). The race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series produced last year’s winner of the 148th “Run for the Roses,” Rich Strike.
In total, the final condition book features 11 stakes events including the renamed 27thrunning of the $125,000 WEBN Frog Stakes (previously known as The Queen). The WEBN Frog Stakes will be run one day prior to originally scheduled on St. Patrick’s Day, Friday, March 17. Entries will be taken Saturday, March 11.
