Jean Valjean hopeful heading into the Disco Partnet, Chelsea Durand Photo
Christian Abdo
Martha Nevins and Michael Pawasarat’s Jean Valjean will tread into deeper waters off a dominant stakes win leading into Sunday’s $150,000 Disco Partner, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up who have not won a graded sweepstakes in 2025-26, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Elizabeth Merryman, the 7-year-old Uncle Lino gelding wired the five-furlong Marshall Jenney by five lengths over fellow Pennsylvania-breds last out on August 14 at Penn National. Piloted by returning rider Jomar Torres, Jean Valjean took early command, led through a half-mile in 44.29 seconds over the firm turf, and stopped the clock in 55.32, earning a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.
“The turf was rock hard and he loves that. He likes to hear his feet rattle,” said Merryman. “I’m not sure he’s going to get that at Saratoga. He’s never been beaten in three turf races at Penn National. He’s a bullet there, but Jomar really suits him and is going to come ride him. He understands him really well.”
Jean Valjean [post 1, Jomar Torres] is 2-for-6 this year, with a prominent 5 1/2-furlong optional claiming win in May at Laurel Park.
“He’s got a tricky disposition. He can easily do too much and it is always challenging to keep him throttled down a little bit,” Merryman said. “He’s had some interesting things happen over the years, been scratched in post parades and whatnot, but he has matured a lot and still has his foot on the gas pedal.”
Before his seasonal debut in April, Jean Valjean had not raced since a third in the Listed Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship in November 2024. There, he set the pace and was beaten just a head by co-winners Alogon and Works for Me in nearly a rare triple dead-heat. Jean Valjean exited with a foot bruise and abscess, and by the time he was ready to go last year, turf season was winding down in the northeast.
“He was ready late last summer, but by that time, turf season in the north was almost over. We just decided that we’d start him early in the spring and he’d be that much happier and fresher,” Merryman explained. “I did expect him to return to his previous form. He’s had a few blips along the way, we figured out he doesn’t like Tapeta or soft turf… I keep hoping to hit the Saratoga turf when it’s speed favoring and haven’t yet, but we are going to try again.”
Jean Valjean, 23-9-1-3 with $313,941 in earnings, is out of the winning Tale of the Cat mare Lady’s Tale.
Klaravich Stables’ Creditworthy [post 7, Manny Franco] will make his stakes debut in his eighth career start. Trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the 5-year-old Mitole gelding enters off a pair of optional claiming wins over course and distance, last out on August 2, and before that nearly one year earlier last August 30.
Creditworthy is 3-for-3 over the Spa turf, all over Sunday’s 5 1/2-furlong distance. His last out optional claiming score off the bench came by a half-length over Grade 3-winner Clock Tower and Grade 1-winner Nobals, who captured the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Creditworthy, 7-4-1-1 overall with $264,263 in earnings, is out of the winning Paddy O’Prado mare Paddy’s Flight, a half-sister to stakes-winner Summer Cruise and Group 1-placed Rebuttal.
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, R. A. Hill Stable and Brandon Dalinka’s dual Grade 3-placed No Evidence [post 3, Dylan Davis] is cross-entered in a Friday optional claimer here. Trained by Miguel Clement, the 4-year-old Vekoma gelding defeated next-out winner Bosun by a half-length to capture an allowance over course and distance last out on July 11.
The Estate of R. Larry Johnson’s Grade 2-placed Determined Kingdom [post 4, John Velazquez] is cross-entered in the Da Hoss on Monday at Colonial Downs. Trained by Michael Trombetta, the 7-year-old Animal Kingdom gelding has hit the board in three straight efforts, including a win two back in the restricted Punch Line in July at Colonial.
Rounding out the field are stakes-winner Stars and Strides [post 2, Junior Alvarado] for Hall of Famer Bill Mott; multiple stakes-placed Heart Headed [post 6, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] for trainer Mike Maker; the streaking Bite and Strike [post 8, Jose Lezcano], who has won three straight off the claim for conditioner Linda Rice; and three-time winner Billionaires Row [post 5, Edgard Zayas] for trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci.
Buttah and Paradise Valley are entered for the main track-only.
The Disco Partner is slated as Race 11 on Sunday’s 12-race card, which includes the Grade 1 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful [Race 10] and Grade 3 Prioress [Race 4]. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.
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