Of course Liliesformille has to be on KY Oaks trail (Turfway route)
Turfway Park press release by Kevin Kerstein (Coady photo of Liliesformille capturing Gowell Stakes under Jack Gilligan)
FLORENCE, Ky. (Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023) – Liliesformille will attempt to keep her perfect record at Turfway Park in tact against a competitive field of 11 3-year-old fillies that entered Saturday night’s 36th running of the $125,000 Valdale Stakes.
Run at 6 ½ furlongs, the Valdale will go as Race 5 of 8 with a post time of 7:55 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 5:55 p.m.
Trained by Sarah Hamilton and owned in partnership by Kelly Bownes, Tom Van Meter, Randy Finegan, William Sparks, Jocelynn Morgan, Allen Nohsey Jr., Karen Arnold, Wayne Sweezey and Cathy Sweezey, Liliesformillie was part of an eventful stretch drive on New Year’s Eve in the Gowell Stakes where she was bumped by rival B G Warrior and eventually placed first by the stewards. Prior to the Gowell Stakes, Liliesformillie broke her maiden by 2 ¾ lengths at the Florence oval under jockey Jack Gilligan. She’ll be ridden in the Valdale by Declan Cannon out of post No. 3.
Even though Gilligan rode Liliesformillie when she broke her maiden and in the Gowell, he’ll remain in the saddle on Ready Made Racing’s impressive Churchill Downs allowance winner T Max. Trained by Will Walden, T Max began her career on Aug. 21 at Ellis Park where she broke her maiden by 5 ¾ lengths prior to her dominant five-length allowance victory beneath the Twin Spires on Sept. 15. Saturday will be the first start for T Max since Nov. 26 when she finished an enigmatic sixth in the $400,000 Golden Rod (GII). The Connect filly will break from post 11.
Another top filly that entered the Valdale is Lael Stables’ 4 ½-length allowance winner Murky. Trained by Wesley Ward, Murky defeated eight rivals in the aforementioned Jan. 26 allowance event. The six-furlong dash was the first start for the daughter of Violence on the Tapeta surface. She’ll be ridden by Gerardo Corrales from post 9.
Also entered in the Valdale is $50,000 Golden Gate Debutante winner Sally’s Sassy, recent Gulfstream Park allowance winner Strokes (IRE) and debut winner Tammy Tap Tap Tap.
Here’s the complete field for the Valdale from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Sally’s Sassy (Alex Achard, Jonathan Wong); Baytown Lovely (Grace McEntee, Paul McEntee); Liliesformillie (Cannon, Hamilton); Jill Jitterbug (Manny Esquivel, Ryan Walsh); B G Warrior (David Haldar, Ron Kahles); Strokes (IRE) (Luan Machado, Mark Casse); Moon Magic Chrissy(Rogelio Miranda, Doug Danner); Always At Ease (Chris Landeros, Keith Desormeaux); Murky (Corrales, Ward); Tammy Tap Tap Tap (Rafael Hernandez, Phil Bauer); T Max (Gilligan, Walden).
Fans can watch and wager on the Valdale, along with all the action from Turfway Park, onwww.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.
For dining reservations and more information about Turfway Park, visitwww.turfwaypark.com.
