Valid Video Tackles Lion Tamer, Gygistar

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(from Gulfstream report)
Mac Fehsenfeld's Valid Video, winner of the Sunshine Millions Dash last year at Gulfstream, was installed the 9-5 favorite in the early line for Saturday's $200,00 Richter Scale Breeders' Cup Championship Handicap (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park.

The Dennis Manning-trained gelding by Valid Wager opened his 4-year-old campaign with a third in the Sunshine Millions Sprint at Gulfstream Jan. 24. Last year, Valid Video won the King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, also at the Richter Scale distance of seven furlongs. Joe Bravo gets the call again on starting high weight of 118 pounds.

His two main rivals in the Richter Scale are Edward P. Evans' Gygistar, 117, ridden by Jerry Bailey, and Michael B. Tabor's Lion Tamer, 116, with John Velazquez.

Gygistar gets out from the shadow of Cajun Beat and Alke in this spot, and has won three of four lifetime starts at seven furlongs. Mark Hennig trains the 5-year-old, who will also benefit by leaving from Post 6. Gygistar was stuck down on the rail last out when he ran fourth behind Alke and Cajun Beat in the Deputy Minister (gr. III).

Lion Tamer made a winning 4-year-old debut at Gulfstream on Jan. 28, taking an allowance/optional claimer by more than two lengths. The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Will's Way stamped himself one to watch here last year when he won the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) - also at seven furlongs - by six lengths over Strength Within. He is unbeaten in three lifetime starts at Gulfstream.

The others entered are Lee Battaglia & James DiVito 's Coach Jimi Lee; Morton and Marisol Binn's True Direction; Peter E. Blum's Multiple Choice; and Hammer Time Stable's Wacky for Love.

Coach Jimi Lee, trained by Jimmy DiVito, was third in the Deputy Minister, 2 1/4 lengths before Gygistar. The 4-year-old won the Forward Pass Stakes at Arlington in his only try at seven furlongs.

All of the starters in the seven-furlong Richter Scale are Breeders' Cup eligible, and therefore will share in the entire purse, which includes $100,000 from Gulfstream and $100,000 from the Breeders' Cup Fund.

200,000 Richter Scale Breeders' Cup Championship Handicap (gr. II, Race 11, 5:46 p.m. EST), 3 & up, 7 furlongs
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Valid Video (FL), 118, Joe Bravo
2. Coach Jimi Lee (KY), 115, Pat Day
3. Multiple Choice (KY), 113, Jorge F. Chavez
4. Wacky for Love (KY), 113, Jose A. Santos
5. True Direction (ON), 114, Eibar Coa
6. Gygistar (KY), 117, Jerry D. Bailey
7. Lion Tamer (KY), 116, John R. Velazquez

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