Taurus hits bulls eye in second Valley View division

Eye of Taurus (green hat) was a stubborn winner of the Valley View over Miss Keller (EquiSport Photos)

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and jockey John Velazquez swept both divisions of

Friday's $125,000

Valley View S. (G3) at Keeneland, and the second winner for the pair was

even less heralded than the first. Harvey Clarke's EYE OF TAURUS (Aldebaran),

who had never run in a stakes before, improved enough off a second-level

allowance win at Monmouth to register the 13-1 upset by a head over 9-1 chance

Miss Keller (Ire) (Montjeu [Ire]) with 2-1 favorite Keertana (Johar) a

comfortably beaten third. Eye of Taurus returned $28.80, $14.80 and $8.20.

Direct Line (Tiznow) was the first to lead, getting a quarter in :24, but

soon yielded to Afternoon Stroll (Stroll), who led through a half-mile in :49

and six furlongs in 1:15 2/5. Eye of Taurus, meanwhile, rated close throughout

and took control at the top of the stretch. She met the oncoming rush of Miss

Keller with good courage, defending her lead throughout the final furlong to

finish the 1 1/16 miles on top in 1:46 2/5 over the yielding ground.

Miss Keller, 3 1/4 lengths clear of Keertana at the line, returned $9.40 and

$6.40 with Keertana 1 1 /4 lengths up on Afternoon Stroll for the show at $3.40.

The exacta returned $299.20, the trifecta $1,996.40 and the 8-10-6-2 superfecta

$10,826.20. Seniga (Military) ran fifth and was followed by Cumulonimble (Stormy

Atlantic), Haka (Dynaformer), Forest Uproar (Forest Wildcat), Unbridled Essence

(Essence of Dubai), Aurora Lights (Pulpit) and Direct Line. Mother Russia (Mayakovsky)

and Saucey Evening (More Than Ready) were scratched.