Valbenny tops San Gorgonio cast

Valbenny was last seen in the winner's circle following the 2007 Honeymoon (Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com)

One week after Proudinsky (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]) gave Bobby Frankel his 900th

career victory at Santa Anita in the San Gabriel H. (G2), VALBENNY (Ire) (Val

Royal [Fr]) will

try to extend the trainer's lofty strike rate in Sunday's $150,000

San

Gorgonio H. (G2). Frankel has won no fewer than eight runnings of the San

Gorgonio, a 1 1/8-mile turf test for the distaff set.

While her trainer has been prolific, Valbenny has not. The bay has gone

0-for-8 since her victory in the 2007 Honeymoon H. (G2) for former conditioner

Paddy Gallagher. An excellent second to Rutherienne (Pulpit) in the Del Mar Oaks

(G1) next time out, she was sold to Lael Stables for $1.2 million at the Fasig-Tipton

Kentucky November sale and transferred to Michael Matz for her 2008 campaign.

Valbenny did not seem to be herself on the turf courses back East, with her best

finish being a runner-up effort in the Dr. James Penny Memorial H. at

Philadelphia Park.

Returning to Southern California, she took up residence with Frankel, and in

her second start for her new barn, she flew home for fourth in the one-mile Las

Palmas H. (G2) on Breeders' Cup Friday. Valbenny figures to enjoy the extra

furlong on Sunday. Alex Solis, who has ridden her in nearly all of her starts on

the circuit, will be back in the saddle.

Of her seven opponents, MERIBEL (Peaks and Valleys) and MARZELLINE (Ire) (Barathea

[Ire]) are the most compelling. Like Valbenny, Meribel is another prime

contender with back class. The dark bay captured the off-the-turf Valley View S.

(G3) over Precious Kitten in 2006, and she has placed in a trio of Grade 2

events. Meribel, a rallying third in the 2007 Las Palmas in her only prior

outing over the course, will be making her first start for Mark Casse. The Ben

Cecil-trained Marzelline was a handy victress of the C.T.T. and Thoroughbred

Owners of California H. at Del Mar and a respectable fourth in the Yellow Ribbon

S. (G1), beaten a total of 2 1/2 lengths by 2008 San Gorgonio champion Wait a

While.