2017 Valedictory Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G3 Valedictory Stakes will be contested this Sunday, December 10 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Horses three years old and upward will be featured when they take to Woodbine's All Weather track and race 1 3/4 lengths.

A field of 12 will give it a go in the Valedictory Stakes - race 10 on Woodbine's busy closing Sunday schedule. Post time is 5:40 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all 12 entries for this compelling G3 marathon.

2017 Valedictory Stakes Entries at Woodbine Racetrack

Melmich 7-5

Defending runner-up and 2015 winner - versatile Kevin Attard trained gelding has placed in 27 of 33 career starts - 16 wins, eight seconds and three third-place finishes. He enters off a second behind upset winner Gigantic Breeze in the G2 Autumn Stakes here November 12 after a terrific five-race win streak on this track - the G3 Durham Cup Stakes September 30, the minor OLG/OR Elgin Stakes August 30, the G3 Seagram Cup by an impressive 7 1/2 lengths July 1, the G3 Dominion Day Stakes July 1 (for the second year in a row) and an Allowance Optional Claiming May 31. Before that was six months away and an OK second in the G3 Valedictory Stakes last December - a race that he won in 2015 as well. He has been terrific the last seven months and hopes to keep an impressive run going Sunday from post 11. Eurico Rosa Da Silva will be in the saddle of the obvious morning line favorite.

English Illusion 9-2

Defending fourth-place finisher has three wins in 19 career starts for trainer David Vella to go along with two seconds and four third-place finishes. He arrives off an Allowance score over Pumpkin Rumble here November 10 after a third in a similar race here October 13 and a fifth in the G1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes on this track September 16. Before that was an OK second in the minor OLG/OR Halton Stakes here August 30 and a fourth, a fifth and a seventh respectively in a trio of Allowance Optional Claiming races on this track. His other two graded stakes starts resulted in a fourth in the 2016 Valedictory Stakes here in December and an OK third in the G3 Ontario Derby on this track last September. English Illusion has been OK against lesser company lately but is still in search of a breakthrough in stakes company. Alan Garcia will be in the reins of the second betting choice from gate 10

Pumpkin Rumble 6-1

Kevin Attard trained gelding has 33 career starts with five wins, six seconds and eight third-place finishes. Last time out was a second in an Allowance here November 10 which followed an Allowance score on this track October 13, a disappointing seventh in the G1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes here September 16 and four straight OK thirds - the G2 Sky Classic Stakes here August 20, the G2 Nijinsky Stakes on this track July 29, the G3 Singspiel Stakes here July 2 and in an Allowance Optional Claiming here June 9. Before that was a second in a similar race May 17 on this track. He failed to place in his previous four starts. Pumpkin Rumble has been OK in his last eight starts and will be hoping for a first ever graded stakes score from gate 8 Sunday with Jesse Campbell guiding the morning line third choice.

Leavem in Malibu 8-1

Mark Case trained colt has placed in nine of 11 career starts - three wins, two seconds and four third-place finishes. He enters off an Allowance Optional Claiming score here November 26 after a third in a similar race on this track November 3 and a fifth in his only graded stakes action to date - the G3 Durham Cup on this track September 30. He placed in his four previous four starts as well including a second in the minor Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Eerie in July and a third in the minor Breeders' Stakes on this track in August. Leavem in Malibu has been competitive but has yet to post a stakes win. Jockey Patrick Husbands will try to change all of the from gate 2.

Motivational 12-1

Jack Fisher trained gelding has just four wins in 21 career starts to go along with one second and six third-place finishes. He makes her graded stakes debut Sunday off an Allowance score at Pine Mountain November 4, a sixth in the listed Laurel Turf Cup September16 (he was fourth in the 2016 edition of that race) and an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Laurel Park August 11. Motivational has quietly placed in three of his last four starts after failing to hit the board in three of her previous four - in OK form for her major step up. Luis Contreras will be in the saddle from post 3.

Ethical Funds 15-1

Defending third-place finisher in this race, George Billers trained gelding has 30 career starts with three wins, six seconds and five third-place finishes - all on this track. Last time out was a third in an Allowance November 10 which followed a sixth and a fifth in a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming races this past fall. Before that was a fourth in the OLG/OR Halton Stakes August 30, a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming July 30 and a fifth in the G3 Dominion Day Stakes July 1. Ethical Funds chases a first stakes win but enters having failed to place in three of her last four starts. He shoots for the huge breakthrough from gate 4 with David Moran guiding her.

Bangkok 20-1

Defending champion over Melmich in this race has 30 career starts for trainer W. Philip Gracey with five wins, three seconds and five third place finishes - all on this track. He has failed to hit the board in his last four starts ahead of this weekend however - consecutive fifths in Allowance races this past fall followed a fourth in the G2 Nijinsky Stakes July 29 and a fifth in the G3 Singspiel Stakes July 2. Before that were two straight nice wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming June 9 and the 2016 Valedictory Stakes December 4 and a third in an Allowance November 11, 2016. Bangkok has not looked great lately but has been solid in training leading up to this weekend. He hopes to find his form from last year's edition of this race when he leaves from the rail with Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard.

Tesseron 20-1

Harold Ladouceur trained gelding has six wins, three seconds and two third-place finishes in 26 career starts. He was second in the 2012 G3 Grey Stakes here but has failed to place in graded stakes action since (five tries). Last time out was a second in a Starter Optional Claiming on this track October 2 after two straight wins in similar races on this track this past summer. He placed in two prior starts as well - a third in a Starter Optional Claiming July 22 and a Claiming score June 23. Tesseron has been good lately against lesser company and will be looking to finally make some noise in stakes company - from post 5 with Omar Moreno in the reins.

Kasseopia 20-1

Mark Casse trained colt finished second in the 2015 Grey Stakes here and went on to a decent third in the G2 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate in February, 2016 and a seventh in the G3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park a couple of months later - he hasn't race in stakes company since. Last time out was a fourth in an Allowance Optional Claiming here November 26 after an Allowance score on this track October 14, a seventh and consecutive sixths in a trio of Allowance races earlier this year. He now has two wins, two second and two third-place finishes in 14 career starts and searches for a first stakes score from gate 6 Sunday. Gary Boulanger rides.

Portree 20-1

Stuart Simon trained colt has 19 career starts with four wins, three seconds and five third-place finishes - all on this track. He makes his graded stakes debut Sunday off a seventh in an Allowance November 10 which followed a second and two thirds in a trio of Allowance races before that. Portree raced all three legs of the 2015 Canadian Triple Crown - a fourth in the Plate Trial was his best result. He has been up-and-down in his career and will chase a first stakes score in typically so-so form. Rafael Manuel Hernandez will be in the irons Sunday from post 7.

Major Production 20-1

Stephen Philpott trained gelding has seven wins, five seconds and two third-place finishes in his 43 career starts. He makes his stakes debut Sunday off an eighth in an Allowance here November 10 and two straight Starter Optional Claiming scores - one on this track October 22. He placed in three of his previous four starts as well. Major Production has been largely underwhelming in his career but will be out to make some noise from the outside gate 12. Steven Ronald Bahen is scheduled to ride.

Lead by Example 30-1

Has just one win in his 15 career starts for trainer Josie Carroll to go along with four third-place finishes. He steps into stakes company for the first time Sunday having placed in just one of his last six starts overall. Last time out was a fourth in an Allowance at Finger Lakes November 14 after a third in a Starter Optional Claiming at Laurel Park October 23 and trio of sixth-place finishes in Allowance races. Lead by Example hasn't impressed so far and looks as through he will be in over his head from post 9. Slade Callaghan gets the call.

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