Valid determined winner of Groomstick Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Valid took the lead on the far turn and turned back the late challenge of Falling Sky to win the seven furlong Groomstick Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
It was the second straight stakes win for the five-year-old gelding by Medaglia d’Oro. He entered the race off a sharp score in the nine-furlong G3 Philip Iselin Stakes in August.
Bred by Edward P. Evans, Valid was a $500,000 Keeneland September yearling. He is out of the stakes-winning mare, Grand Prayer, and is a half-brother to G1 winner Malibu Prayer.
Medaglia d'Oro is having a tremendous year in 2015, and is now tied with Tapit by black-type winners this year, which include G1 Del Mar Debutante winner Songbird, G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap winner Mshawish and G2 winners Gold Medal Dancer and Mrs McDougal. The sire's top runners lifetime include Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, G1 Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty, and G1-winning turf specialist Marketing Mix.