Precieuse Outduels Valedictorian, Takes Honey Fox

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Peter Brant’s Precieuse fought hard with a stubborn Valedictorian before coming out on top in Saturday’s Honey Fox Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Breaking from the rail under Javier Castellano as the even-money favorite, Precieuse was in tight early and took back to run in midpack heading into the first turn. Meanwhile, La Signare was left to post uncontested fractions of :23.51, :46.51, and 1:10.12. Heading into the far turn, Castellano tipped Precieuse off the rail and began chasing dow the early leader. Nearing the top of the stretch, La Signare’s lead evaporated, and Precieuse and Valedictorian soon overtook her. Valedictorian initially held the lead, but in deep stretch, Precieuse seemed to find a new gear, driving past to win by a 1/2-length in a final time of 1:34.14 for the mile-long event over the firm turf course.

Bellavais came running up the middle of the track to neck out third over a fast-closing Hogans Holiday, with Fire Key not far behind them. La Signare tired in the stretch to take sixth, while Conquest Hardcandy, Dolce Lili, Scotty’s Model, and Valentine Wish completed the order of finish.

Precieuse’s win was her first since taking a Group 1 event at the French track Deauville on May 13, 2017, and improved her overall record to 9-3-5-0. The lightly-raced Irish-bred daughter of Tamayuz, whose lone stateside start was a close loss in last summer’s De La Rose Stakes, has now earned $485,194.

“It meant a lot for us to win today,” Brown said. “Mr. Brant has been very patient with this horse. Obviously, she hasn’t run much in the couple of years with a few injuries. It was important to get the year started off and she deserved to run the whole year and not be bred. My staff did a fabulous job to have her ready and Javier really rode a great race. It was a tricky mile race off the layoff, but he really judged the race well and got a nice clean trip and I’m really happy with her.”

Precieuse returned $4 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.20 to show. Valedictorian brought back $5.20 to place and $3.20 to show, while Bellavais paid $2.80 to show.