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Acoma scores in Valley View Helen C. Alexander and Helen K. Groves' homebred ACOMA (Empire Maker) circled the early leaders rounding the final turn, grabbed the lead in the lane and scored by a half-length to take Friday's $150,000 Valley View S. (G3) at Keeneland. With Julien Leparoux holding the reins, the David Carroll trainee finished up 1 1/16 miles over the firm turf in 1:43 3/5. As expected, Julia Tuttle (Giant's Causeway) seized the lead from her inside post when the gates opened, setting splits of :23, :47 3/5 and 1:12 1/5. Tight Precision (Pure Precision) was pressing to her outside while Grenadia (Thunder Gulch) and Absolutely Smart (Vindication) were battling it out for third just in behind. Acoma, who had been bumped at the start, stalked not far back in fifth then went after Julia Tuttle entering the turn. The eventual winner came three wide, overtook Tight Precision, and went on to earn her second graded win. She returned $9, $5 and $3.60 as the 7-2 favorite in the 11-horse field. Tight Precision was up close throughout the whole race, briefly grabbed the lead through a mile in 1:37 1/5, then was passed by the winner and just held second by a nose, giving back $7.40 and $5.80 as the 7-1 sixth choice. Grenadia paid $13.20 at 28-1, and it was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Scolara (Quiet American) in fourth. The exotics were worth $89 (exacta), $1,487 (trifecta) and $9,646.40 (10-3-4-2 superfecta). Clear Pond (Dynaformer), Miss Challenge (More Than Ready), Much Obliged (Kingmambo), Forest Trail (Forest Wildcat), Julia Tuttle, Stealin' Kisses (Sky Mesa) and Absolutely Smart completed the order under the wire. Dreaming of Liz (El Prado [Ire]) and Absolutely Cindy (Arch) were scratched in favor of Saturday's Raven Run S. (G2) on the Polytrack. Acoma returned to the site of her maiden win here, though on a different surface. The bay lass made her career debut a third at Fair Grounds in March before heading to Keeneland and capturing her first win by two lengths on the Polytrack. Once Keeneland's spring meet ended, the three-year-old proceeded to Churchill Downs, where she added an allowance score and the Dogwood S. (G3) to her line. Given a two-month break, Acoma reappeared next in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Belmont, running a well-beaten fourth, then was second most recently in the Monmouth Oaks (G3) at Monmouth Park. Once again given some off, she took this one off a 69-day vacation and now owns a 7-4-1-1, $272,564, record. To say the Kentucky-bred Acoma descends from a strong female family would be an understatement. Her dam, stakes winner and Grade-3 placed Aurora (Danzig), has also produced Grade 1 winner Arch (Kris S.) and UAE Horse of the Year Festival of Light (A.P. Indy), as well as Arch's stakes-winning full brother Alisios. Acoma's second dam was 1983 champion two-year-old filly Althea (Alydar) and her third dam, Courtly Dee (Never Bend), was named Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 1983. This female family has produced numerous stakes winners, including Grade/Group 1 conquerors Balletto (UAE) (Timber Country), Ali Oop (Al Hattab), Ketoh (Exclusive Native), Aldiza (Storm Cat) and Green Desert (Danzig), as well as Japanese champion filly Yamanin Paradise (Danzig). Acoma has a yearling full sister named Asian Empress and a weanling half-sister by Bernardini.
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