Champs Elysees’ Colonia Along Late in Valley View

[Wandering Eyes]

Colonia (Fr) (f, 3, Champs Elysees {GB}–Clara Luna {Ire}, by Muhtathir {GB}) came from well off the pace to cause a mild upset in Friday’s GIII Pin Oak Valley View S. at Keeneland, a race in which the winner managed to avoid an incident in the final eighth of a mile that saw the well-backed Daddy Is A Legend (Scat Daddy) veer to her left and through the inside running rail. Void of any real speed as Cool Beans (Candy Ride {Arg}) was allowed to set a leisurely pace on the business end, Colonia was ridden patiently from third or fourth-last by Joe Bravo and still looked to have plenty to do from near the tail at the midpoint of the second turn. Still last but two as the field reached the quarter-pole, she began to weave her way through the field and split Cool Beans and Mighty Scarlett (Scat Daddy) in the final sixteenth of a mile to score a narrow victory. Daddy Is a Legend raced slightly better than midfield and saving ground down the back and was trying to rally underneath Cool Beans at midstretch when she appeared to take an awkward step and plowed through the rail, then galloped on the infield, apparently unscathed. A maiden winner in five French starts for Fabrice Chappet, Colonia won the Hatoof S. in her U.S. debut at Arlington in July, was a troubled fifth in the GI Del Mar Oaks and ran with credit when a latest third in the GII Sands Point S. at Belmont Sept. 15. Lifetime Record: 9-3-0-3. O-Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Maurice Lagasse, Haras d’Etreham & Bethlehem Stables; B-Haras d’Etreham & Gestut Zur Kuste; T-H Graham Motion.

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