How to bet the 2026 Valley View Stakes

A total of 10 sophomore fillies will travel one mile over the green at Keeneland in Friday’s feature, the $400,000 Valley View (G2). Three-time stakes heroine #5 Sister Troienne (6-5) is the deserving morning-line choice for trainer Brian Lynch, and while I don’t feel that she is a sure thing against this talented cast, she is still a must-use. 

Valley View Wagers

• $1 superfecta 5 with 1,3,9 with 1,3,9 with all ($42)
• 50-cent superfecta 3 with 5 with 1,9 with all ($7)
• 50-cent superfecta 3 with 5 with all with 1,9 ($7)

The three-year-old homebred has never run a bad one in her nine-race career and had a fine prep for this, coming off a long absence, when she was a closing second in the Winter Memories (G3) in the Empire State. The Munnings chestnut is a winner on the local lawn and also ran well when moving too soon in the Appalachian (G2) here in April, ultimately falling 1 1/2 lengths short as the favorite in a deep field. Sister Troienne possesses good tactical speed and a strong closing punch, and her best performance will make her difficult to upend with Irad taking the reins. 

European import #3 Define (9-2) has won two of her three stateside races for trainer Brendan Walsh and will be a late factor, even with slight improvement off of her fine allowance tally at Churchill Downs last time out. The bay daughter of Lope de Vega defeated her elders most recently and won't be a major surprise while making her local debut. Tyler Gaffalione has the assignment. 

Phil Antonacci’s lightly raced #9 That’s How We Love (12-1) aired on the Monmouth sod at first asking prior to rallying to finish a close fourth in an allowance heat at Saratoga second time out. The Justify filly has registered strong Brisnet Late Pace figures in her pair of runs to date, and if the $180,000 yearling purchase could stay within range to the top of the lane in her stakes bow, she could make some noise inside the final furlong at a nice price. Reylu Gutierrez comes in to ride. 

#1 Ultimate Love (6-1) is winless in five tries this campaign after flashing so much potential as a juvenile, but the filly has been close on a couple of occasions while facing top company, and a top-three finish is well within her reach for Michael Trombetta. The Live Oak homebred is well placed on the fence and has the versatility to receive a good voyage throughout the affair in her first local appearance beneath John Velazquez.