Valdonna sets 1:52.4 Simcoe record

Valdonna delivered a new stakes records in the lone $209,871 Simcoe division for three-year-old trotting fillies on Thursday night at Mohawk. The Jimmy Takter trainee got under the wire in 1:52.4 with Dave Miller in the sulky.

 

While tempo-setter Bluff (Scott Zeron) put up fractions of :27.2 and :56.2, Valdonna sat patiently in fourth, but when the fillies entered the final turn, the 3-5 favourite was on the move. As soon as Bluff clocked the three-quarters in 1:24.4, Valdonna then took command and continued to draw away from the field with ease to score the three and a half length victory. A late-rallying Miss Paris (Rick Zeron) and Dream On Hanover (Randy Waples) finished second and third, respectively.

 

It was the first time Miller drove the filly and he took the advice that both Takter and Myron Bell of Brittany Farms gave him.

 

"They told me not to get in a big hurry with her, just kind of let her do it on her own and not to rush her,” said Miller. "She raced very well.”

 

Valdonna's record is two-fifths of a second better than the previous record set in 2006 by the Brad Maxwell-trained Pure Ivory. The daughter of Andover Hall-Valbonne has a lifetime record of 4-2-0 from 13 starts and career earnings of $253,987 for Brittany Farms. Valdonna paid $3.40 to win. (WEG)