Winner of Keeneland’s Valley View flourishing since move from Germany

A passport and a change of venue netted German-raced Quidura victory in the Grade III, $150,000 Pin Oak Valley View Stakes on Friday at Keeneland. Gestut Faerhof’s 3-year-old filly has blossomed since relocating to the United States and was winning her second consecutive race in this country.

Jockey Junior Alvarado brought Quidura four wide into the homestretch to outrun My Impression after they passed the eighth pole, then pulled away from Linda while the latter made a late run between those two to finish second. Quidura finished a clear 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Linda, while My Impression finished 2 lengths farther back in third.

“They had high hopes for her in Europe,” trainer Graham Motion said by phone from Maryland. According to Motion, an incident of respiratory bleeding ended the filly’s European career and brought her to the United States, where anti-bleeder medication is permitted.

Twelve 3-year-old fillies went postward for the Valley View, at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Due to heavy rains earlier, the Valley View was the only race to remain on the grass, with the course listed as soft. Quidura found the footing favorable, raced close to the leaders in the early going and finished in 1:45.86. Third choice in the betting, Quidura paid $9.80 to win with the favorite, Azaelia, finishing ninth after failing to get closer than sixth at any point.

The Valley View was the third win in four lifetime starts for Quidura, a daughter of Dubawi bred in Great Britain. She added $90,000 Friday to a career bankroll of $51,777.

This story was originally published October 21, 2016 at 8:02 PM with the headline "Winner of Keeneland’s Valley View flourishing since move from Germany."