Valiant Livy, ridden by Ali Rivera (yellow cap), wins the $35,000 Nutrena Stakes at Lone Star Park Saturday by 1/2-length over half-brother Sass Cartel.

© Dustin Orona Photography

GRANDE PRAIRIE, TEXAS–OCTOBER 21, 2023–Valiant Livy confidently wins the $35,000 Nutrena Stakes at Lone Star Park Saturday night in an upset over half-brother Sass Cartel and post-time favorite Whirlaway Valentine.

Ali Rivera was aboard Valiant Livy for her 1/2-length win in :20.060 seconds. The daughter of Valiant Hero clocked an 86 speed index in the 400-yard stakes and the long shot victory paid $24.40 to win on 11-1 odds.

The Nutrena Stakes is only the second win for Valiant Livy from 13 starts and the $16,100 winner's share increases her bankroll to $29,380. The John A. Stinebaugh prepped filly was a finalist in the Will Rogers Derby Challenge Stakes earlier this month.

The winning connections of Valiant Livy accept the Nutrena Stakes trophy at Lone Star Park. © Dustin Orona Photography

Lana Bailey of Canadian River Quarter Horses LLC purchased Valiant Livy for $220,000 from her breeder Speed LLC of Utah in the 2021 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Sass Cartel, piloted by Francisco Calderon, stumbled out of the gates but picked up his stride for a second place finish across the wire. The two-time winning son of Corona Cartel was a finalist in the Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge in August and has two career wins with $29,131 in the bank.

Current owner Horton Racing LLC purchased Sass Cartel for $130,000 from his breeder Speed LLC in the 2021 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The three-year-old Utah-bred gelding is a half-brother to winner Valiant Livy and they were both born in 2020 out of Jess Sass Me by Mr Jess Perry.

Whirlaway Valentine, with Edgar Ramirez in the irons, ran in close with the competition holding for show by a nose to Sass Cartel. The three-year-old son of Whirlaway Red broke his maiden in 2022 and has a total of $22,135 in earnings.

Breeder Buckskin Ec Inc sold Whirlaway Valentine to his current owner MRB Racing LLC for $20,000 in the 2021 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. The Oklahoma-bred gelding is out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Lil Miss Party Doll. 

Bluemoon Arising, Tyger King, Free From Corona, Always Interesting, Hes Jess Relentless, Kartendo Fast Dash and Crimson Cash round out the order of finish. Capo ON Fire and Jessa Beast were scratched.