Stakes record set in $416,200 Valley Victory

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Volume Eight (Chapter Seven) and driver Andy McCarthy didn’t have their A-game heading into Saturday’s (Nov. 26) $416,200 Valley Victory Trot final at the Meadowlands, but the 2-year-old was more than good enough to win the harness racing event for colts and geldings decisively with a stakes-record 1:52.2 mile.

“He didn’t have the best of weeks,” said trainer Noel Daley. “He was much better heading into the Kindergarten final.”

Despite Daley’s concerns, McCarthy guided the 3-5 betting choice smartly from post nine, leaving slowly while Up Your Deo and Åke Svanstedt assumed quick command followed by Kimmeridgian and Tim Tetrick. Kilmister and Brian Sears were next to get the lead at the :27.2 first quarter with McCarthy lying in wait. Volume Eight rolled to the front at the three-eighths and more than intimidated those in the rear, cutting the half in :56.4 and waiting for the outer flow to commence.

Second choice Celebrity Bambino, runner-up in the Breeders Crown in October, went on the offensive for Yannick Gingras during the third quarter, with Upstaged and Purple Lord following second- and third-over, respectively. Celebrity Bambino wasn’t making much progress as McCarthy rated the three-quarters in 1:25.2 and began the sprint home.

Celebrity Bambino stalled and eventually lost his action in the stretch when he broke stride, and that paved the way for Kimmeridgian to angle out of the three-hole and mount an offensive. Volume Eight hardly flinched with the challenge and simply kept rolling to the wire, trotting his final quarter in :27. Kimmeridgian held on for second with Kilmister third. Up You Deo and Upstaged completed the top five.

VOLUME EIGHT REPLAY

Now a winner seven times in nine starts this year, Volume Eight returned $3.20 to win.

N. Daley and Sjoblom Racing, Joe Sbrocco, LA Express & JAF Racing, and Mario Mazza share ownership in Volume Eight, who was bred by the late Bob Key.

“He’s a serious horse,” said Daley. “He’s the best 2-year-old I’ve ever had.”

Daley had high praise for his potential 2023 Hambletonian favorite:

“The mile he went in the Kindergarten was as good as any 2-year-old trotting mile I’ve ever seen.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Jay Bergman, for The Meadowlands