Mark Valeski likely to skip the Belmont Stakes
With two victories and the same number of runner-up finishes in four starts, Brereton C. Jones homebred, Mark Valeski, hasn’t participated in any of the Triple Crown races thus far, and it looks like he will bypass the remaining Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on 9 June, 2012 as well after winning the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park in his most recent start.
The Larry Jones trained 3-year-old colt was considered the one of the top contenders in the Belmont Stakes, especially after winning the Peter Pan Stakes without any great deal of difficulty on 12 May, 2012, at Belmont Park.
The Kentucky bred son of Proud Citizen downed the 1 1/8 mile distance in 1 minute and 48.31 seconds, defeating the likes of Right to Vote in second and Street Life in third.
“Mark’s actually doing OK, but he got a little tired after the race,” Jones said Monday from Churchill Downs, where Mark Valeski was sent after the Peter Pan. “He doesn’t have the same energy level. It’s looking like the Belmont is more and more doubtful. He’s not showing a lot of sparkle.
“I’m not saying he’s 100 percent out. But we may end up bypassing the Belmont and just waiting for the Dwyer.”
If Mark Valeski goes on to skip the Belmont Stakes, than the Grade 2 Dwyer Stakes becomes a real possibility for the colt, where he will meet the Peter Pan Stakes runner up, Right to Vote, in a 1 1/16 miles contest run over Belmont Park’s dirt track on 30 June, 2012.
Prior to the Peter Pan Stakes, Mark Valeski had shown great form by starting the season with a win in an allowance/optional claimer at Fair Grounds Race Course going six furlongs.
His next challenge was the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes also at Fair Grounds, where he got beaten by, El Padrino in second under Rosie Napravnik’s guidance.
Out of Fortunate Prospect mare Pocho’s Dream Girl, Mark Valeski finished second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, and if it wasn’t for the long shot, Hero of Order, the Larry Jones trained colt might have gone on to win it.
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