Sister Troienne goes wire to wire in the Valley View, Gulfstream Park Photo
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Keeneland Press
Woodslane Racing’s homebred Sister Troienne backed up her favoritism to win her third stakes of 2026 in Friday’s featured $400,000 Bank of America Valley View (G2) on a perfect fall afternoon at Keeneland.
Luis Saez rode the 3-year-old daughter of Munnings for his second stakes win of the day after guiding Joel Politi’s Stress Relief to victory in the $300,000 Dean Dorton Myrtlewood (L). Saez also rode T V Time Out to victory in the sixth for three wins on the card.
The even-money favorite in the field of 10, Sister Troienne added the 1-mile Bank of America Valley View to her victories this winter at Gulfstream in the Ginger Brew (L) and the Sweetest Chant (L) Presented by Daily Racing Form. Trained by Brian Lynch, she also made amends for a fifth as the favorite in the Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association at the Keeneland Spring Meet.
Saez picked up the mount on Sister Troienne after the original named rider, Irad Ortiz Jr., injured an ankle in the final race on Thursday’s card that will keep him out indefinitely. Saez put Sister Troienne on the lead shortly after the start and led Faye’s Gold, Define (IRE) and Dakotah Blue to the first turn and the opening quarter in :24.34.
Sister Troienne stayed in control by a length over Faye’s Gold onto the backstretch with Define and Dakotah Blue chasing through the half in :48.99.
The top spots remained unchanged to the far turn and around the bend, with Sister Troienne still well in control past 6 furlongs in 1:13.07.
Sister Troienne turned for home in front, responded to Saez’s urging and edged away to win by 2 lengths over Define in 1:37.18 over the good turf course. Dakotah Blue finished a half-length back in third, 1½ lengths clear of Ultimate Love in fourth. That’s How We Love, Call On Me, Faye’s Gold, Spin a Tune, Rhapsody in Motion and Essential Lady completed the field.
Bred in Kentucky, Sister Troienne is out of the stakes-placed Lemon Drop Kid mare Dyna Passer, a daughter of Woodslane’s top-producing Dynaformer mare Dynaire.
A $360,000 purchase at the 2009 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Dynaire is also the dam of Grade 1 winner and $2,679,910-earner Sadler’s Joy and multiple graded stakes winner and $1,354,992-earner Wolfie’s Dynaghost.
Sister Troienne improved to 6-for-10 – and 2-for-3 on Keeneland’s turf course – and picked up $232,500 to boost her earnings to $709,371.
Sister Troienne returned $4.14, $2.62 and $2.28. Define paid $3.80 and $3.36, while Dakotah Blue paid $5.62.
Stress Relief up in time to win Dean Dorton Myrtlewood
Joel Politi’s Stress Relief provided trainer Kinnon LaRose with a first this summer and another first Friday with a rallying victory in Friday’s $300,000 Dean Dorton Myrtlewood (L) at Keeneland.
The 2-year-old daughter of Not This Time edged 21-1 longshot Glory Run just before the wire to win the 6-furlong Dean Dorton Myrtlewood to give LaRose his first Keeneland stakes win. Stress Relief provided LaRose, a former assistant to Tom Amoss before going on his own in March, his first graded stakes victory when she won the Adirondack (G3) in August at Saratoga.
Sent off the 3-1 third choice in the field of six behind 8-5 favorite Elewene and 9-5 second pick Angel of Kirk, Stress Relief came away well and settled into fifth early with Glory Run and jockey Alex Achard eager for the lead. Glory Run led Elewene, Cruisin in Harmony and Stress Relief up the backstretch before clicking off the opening quarter in :22.72.
Glory Run continued on the lead around the turn, vying for the advantage with Rescue Dawn and running past the half split in :46.39. Glory Run and Rescue Dawn continued their battle into the stretch while Luis Saez stayed busy on Stress Relief several paths off the rail.
Stress Relief gained with every stride while Glory Run fought on down on the inside. Stress Relief finally wrested the lead from the longshot a few strides from the finish to win by a neck in 1:11.33 on the fast main track. Glory Run held second by a length over Rescue Dawn and John Velazquez, with Angel of Kirk another 1 3/4 lengths back after rallying from a troubled start under Tyler Gaffalione. Elewene and Cruisin in Harmony completed the field.
Stress Relief, bred in Kentucky by her owner, improved to 3-for-4 and picked up $183,675 to boost her earnings to $393,921. She won her debut June 20 at Churchill before the Aug. 2 Adirondack. Stress Relief’s lone defeat came when fourth in the Spinaway (G1) in September at Saratoga.
Stress Relief returned $8.78, $4.38 and $3. Glory Run paid $12.56 and $5.64, while Rescue Dawn returned $3.74.
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Saturday is closing day of Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet. Ten races begin at 1 p.m. with three stakes on the card.
Race 6 (3:40 p.m.) is the seventh running of the $250,000 Bowman Mill for 2-year-olds at 6 furlongs.
Race 8 (4:44 p.m.) is the 69th running of the $350,000 Hagyard Fayette (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.
Race 9 (5:16 p.m.) is the 22nd running of the $400,000 Bryan Station (G2) for 3-year-olds at 1 mile on the turf.
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