Munnings’ Valuation Metric Wins Awad
It was a new juvenile stakes winner for Munnings on Saturday at the Belmont at the Big A meet when Valuation Metric (2c Munnings x Sonoma d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro) won the Listed Awad Stakes.
Looking to break his maiden in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, the Klaravich Stable representative spent the early part of the race as a back marker when racing between a pair of stablemates. It wasn’t until the field exited the far turn that Flavien Prat swung him wide and got to work.
It took much of the stretch run, but Valuation Metric came up the outside as Tiz The Law’s Tiz Dashing ran up the rail to confront a fading leader.
The pair hit the lead at the same time and Valuation Metric was able to get a small advantage at the line to win by a head.
Trained by Chad Brown, the Sandra Sexton-bred colt was a $185,000 Keeneland September yearling when purchased by Mike Ryan last year.
"He has the makings of a potentially really nice 3-year-old and with added distance as well,” said Brown. “I'll talk to Seth [Klarman, owner] about it, but in all likelihood this horse could end up in Florida sooner than later pointing to some higher-level spots next spring."
The colt is one of two stakes performers and three winners from five runners out of Sonoma d’Oro alongside the Grade III-placed Crevalle d’Oro. There are stakes performers under each of the colt’s first five dams, with the group including Grade II winner Stella Veloce and Grade I Kentucky Derby runner-up Nehro.
This is the 10th stakes winner for Munnings this year with his 22 stakes performers including three juveniles.