Venus Valentine Comes from Outer Space to Collect Kentucky Oaks Points

Venus Valentine Comes from Outer Space to Collect Kentucky Oaks Points: The Rachel Alexandra Stakes has been run annually at the Fair Grounds since its renaming in 2011. The race was previously known as the Silverbulletday Stakes. The history in this Kentucky Oaks prep race is rich. Fillies who have won the race have not only gone on to not be top racehorses but also top broodmares. In 1992, Prospector’s Delite won the race when it was named the Davona Dale. After that, Tiffany Lass won the race in 1986, Silverbulletday won the race in 1999, Take Charge Lady in 2002, Summerly in 2005, Indian Blessing in 2008, and Untapable in 2014. Tiffany Lass, Silverbulletday, Summerly, and Untapable went on to win the Oaks.

This year, a filly exploded with a move that emulated Mine That Bird when she skimmed the rail to win the Rachel Alexandra at long odds of 74-1, a filly named Venus Valentine.

Venus Valentine won her graded stakes debut in a shocking manner. Not only did the Tom Amoss trainee come in with no respect, but she may not get it next time out either. It doesn’t necessarily flatter the winner when the major favorites falter badly.

Venus Valentine is bred to be a top competitor. She is out of a mare named Valentine Fever, who at one point ran second in the Bourbonette Oaks (GIII) at Turfway. She also won two stakes races at Turfway. She eventually found comfort in the allowance optional claiming ranks and was always running well, just not winning much. She eventually retired to become a broodmare.

Valentine Fever is by stallion Stormin Fever. Stormin Fever had four seasons on the track before he retired to stud. As a racehorse, he won races such as the Grade III Sport Page Handicap at Aqueduct. Stormin Fever was another horse that showed up but never quite got the job done. He finished second in three consecutive stakes races: the Salvator Mile Handicap (GIII), the Philip H. Iselin Handicap (GII) in which he finished a nose behind Skip Away, and the Vosburg Stakes (GI). When he did retire, he stood at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Kentucky. Some of his offspring include Biofuel (Canadian Horse of the Year), Sweet Talker, and Fusaichi Auster.

There wouldn’t be Venus Valentine without a stallion, however. Venus Valentine is sired by Congrats, a talented son of A.P. Indy who is out of a Mr. Prospector mare. A.P. Indy clicked with that stallion line well as he has multiple sons at stud that are bred on that same cross. As a racehorse, Congrats won the Grade II San Pasqual Stakes and placed in other graded stakes, such as the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap, just behind Rock Hard Ten, The Ack Ack Handicap (L), and the Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (GI) where he finished third behind Lava Man and Borrego. Congrats not only has Venus Valentine, he has also sired horses like Turbulent Descent (his only millionaire), Top Decile, Toasting, and Temper Mint Patty. Congrats stands at WinStar Farm for a fee of $20,000.

Venus Valentine is likely to stick to the Fair Grounds for her Oaks preps. If she does show up again, it is likely to be in the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 26, which may serve as her final prep, depending on the fitness of the filly. As far as raw talent, she displayed it in the Rachel Alexandra, but can she continue to blaze a trail to Louisville? Pedigree is in no shortage for this filly, so don’t pay too much attention to that. Pay attention to this filly in the coming weeks as she may give us a surprise.