Arthur B. Hancock III and Catesby W. Clay's Meribel, a winner of three races in eight starts this year, could go favored in a deep field of 12 entered for the $125,000 Valley View (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland Friday.The daughter of Peaks and Valleys, trained by Christophe Clement, ran second by a neck to Precious Kitten in her last out, Laurel's Martha Washington Breeders' Cup in late September. Meribel will again face Precious Kitten, trained by Dale Romans and a half sister to champion Kitten's Joy, in the Valley View.The French invader Mysterious Lina (Fr) is making her U.S. debut in the Valley View. Trained by Phillippe Demercastel, Mysterious Lina has recorded only one win in eight starts this year in France, but has run in impressive company, finishing second to Germance in the Darley Prix de la Nonette (Fr-III) in August.
Also sure to attract attention from the wagering public is the Todd Pletcher-trained J'ray, making her first start since finishing third in the Appalachian at Keeneland last spring. J'ray won Keeneland's Jessamine Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf in 2005. Two recent allowance winners -- Adele Dilschneider's Transmit and Stonerside Stable LLC's Idle Quest -- are stepping up to stakes competition. $125,000 Valley View Stakes (gr. IIIT, Race 9, 5:15 p.m.), 3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, ML Odds
1. Transmit (KY), Larry Melancon, 117, 20/1
2. Meribel (KY), Garrett K. Gomez, 117, 3/1
3. Idle Quest (KY), Calvin H. Borel, 117, 20/1
4. May Night (FL), Robby Albarado, 117, 10/1
5. Rasta Farian (KY), Mark Guidry, 117, 12/1
6. Southern Protocol (KY), James Graham, 117, 15/1
7. Tiz a Fantasy (KY), Christopher P. DeCarlo, 117, 15/1
8. Soothsay (IRE), Brice Blanc, 117, 8/1
9. Precious Kitten (KY), Rafael Bejarano, 117, 4/1
10. Mysterious Lina (FR), Stephane Pasquier, 117, 8/1
11. Delmarva (KY), Julien R. Leparoux, 117, 10/1
12. J'ray (NY), John R. Velazquez, 119, 9/2
Also Eligible
13. Pure Incentive (KY), Julien R. Leparoux, 117, 4/1
