Indian Vale Sweeps Fleur de Lis

Indian Vale managed to race past Asi Siempre in the final stages to win the $327,600 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) by 1 1/2 lengths on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The Todd Pletcher trainee completed the 1 1/8-mile test for fillies and mares in 1:49 after pressing pacesetter Fiery Pursuit and putting her head in front on the turn for home. Indian Vale led the pack into the stretch and proved impossible to run down.

Early second favorite Asi Siempre emerged as the biggest challenger mid-stretch but couldn’t close the gap under Garrett Gomez, settling for second, a neck better than the late closing Kettleoneup with Calvin Borel aboard.

Apple Blossom (gr. I) winner Ermine, the slight 2-1 favorite over Asi Siempre and Indian Vale, finished nearly two lengths farther back in fourth after coming up empty in the stretch run.

Fiery Pursuit, with Edgar Prado in the irons, led through early splits of :23 4/5 and :47 1/5 before Indian Vale took the lead after completing six furlongs in 1:11.

Saturday’s victory, worth $199,052, was her seventh in 10 lifetime starts and boosted her earnings to $648,601 for the 5-year-old A.P. Indy mare. Indian Vale paid $7.20, $4.20, and $3.20.

Asi Siempre, second in the Louisville Breeders’ Cup, returned $3.40 and $2.80.

Kettleoneup, winner of the Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) at Hawthorne in April, was $4.40 to show.

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"Indian Vale Sweeps Fleur de Lis" was posted on 17 June 2007 8:55 PM under Horses, Race Tracks, Stakes Races, Trainers

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