Fran's Valentine

Fran's Valentine (1982–2007) was a Thoroughbred racehorse filly, who, in 1985 as a three-year-old, won the Graded stakes races the Hollywood Oaks, Kentucky Oaks and Santa Susana Stakes. Trained by Joe Manzi,[1] she was the first filly to win both the Kentucky Oaks and Hollywood Oaks.[2] Her lifetime earnings were $1,375,465,[3] and she had 13 wins from 34 races.[1]

Fran's Valentine
BreedThoroughbred
SireSaros
GrandsireSassafras
DamIza Valentine
DamsireBicker
Sexmare
Foaled1982
DiedOctober 2007, aged 25
CountryUnited States
ColorDark bay
BreederEarl Scheib
OwnerEarl Scheib, George W. Strawbridge Jr.
TrainerJoe Manzi
Earnings$1,375,465
Major wins
Hollywood Oaks, Kentucky Oaks, Santa Susana Stakes

Fran's Valentine was bred at Green Thumb Farm Stables, in Chino, California[4] by Earl Scheib, an entrepreneur who made his fortune in discounted car paint.[5] Both of Fran's Valentine's parents, her dam Iza Valentine, and her sire, Saros, were owned by Scheib.[6] Scheib named Fran's Valentine after his wife Fran;[6] the filly was his favourite horse.[4]

Racing career

In November 1984, as a two-year-old, Fran's Valentine was first over the line in her first race, the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Hollywood Park.[7] Although she finished first by half a length, Fran's Valentine was relegated to tenth after stewards judged that she had bumped another horse at the top of the back stretch.[6] The decision move her jockey, Pat Valenzuela, to tears.[6] Scheib, who was well known for starring in television commercials promoting his discount car-painting business, was asked why he was still smiling in the commercial that aired just after the race; his questioner had not realized that the commercial had been recorded in advance.[7] Fernando Toro, the jockey of Pirate's Glow who was bumped during the race, said he could have been killed, and criticized Valenzuela's riding.[8] The win was awarded to Outstandingly, the filly that was second across the line.[9]

On March 2, 1985, Fran's Valentine won the Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita to win $77,150.[8] Later that month, ridden by Pat Valenzuela, she won the Grade I Santa Susana Stakes by two and a half lengths, earning $122,100.[7] Her next race, in May 1985, was the Kentucky Oaks.[7] Fran's Valentine was the first filly that her trainer, Joe Manzi, had entered into the Oaks,[7] and she won in a record time for the track,[1] again ridden by Valenzuela.[10] The track was hard, her preferred type of surface.[6]

In July 1985, Fran's Valentine won the Hollywood Oaks by a head over Magnificent Lindy; this was her fifth stakes victory in six starts.[11] Chris McCarron rode her to this victory in a record time for the track of 1:47.25.[11] Her winnings were $93,300, with an additional Breeders Cup award of $27,000.[11]

In August 1986, she won the Grade II Chula Vista Handicap on a track that was hard,[6] and in 1987 she won the Santa Maria Handicap (Grade II).[1]

Retirement and stud

After racing, Fran's Valentine became a broodmare; six of her ten foals became winners,[12] including With Anticipation, a Grade I winning horse who earned over $2.6 million in his career.[12] After having her third foal, she was bought by George W. Strawbridge Jr.[1]

Fran's Valentine was retired to Derry Meeting Farm, Cochranville, Pennsylvania, where she lived until she was euthanized at the age of 25 due to old age.[1]

References
  1. "Fran's Valentine Dead". BloodHorse.com. 8 November 2007. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  2. "NTRA Thoroughbred Notebook. Plum Pretty tops quintet entered in Hollywood Oaks". NTRA Communications. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  3. "Frans Valentine Horse Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  4. "Car painting pioneer dies at 85". NWI Times. 2 March 1992. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  5. "Earl A. Scheib, 85, Owner Of 200 Shops That Painted Cars". The New York Times. 2 March 1992. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  6. Christine, Bill (10 October 1986). "Third Try in Breeders' Cup Could Be Charm for Fran's Valentine". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  7. Christine, Bill (25 March 1985). "Finally, Earl Scheib Has a Reason to Paint the Town : His Filly, Fran's Valentine, Wins in Santa Susana Stakes by 2 1/2 Lengths Before 66,883 By". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  8. Christine, Bill (23 March 1985). "Fran's Valentine May Pay Off for Earl Scheib". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  9. Crist, Steven; Times, Special to the New York (11 November 1984). "Slew O' Gold Beaten by 31-1 Shot in Breeders' Cup". The New York Times. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  10. Hovdey, Jay (2 September 2016). "From the good to the bad and ugly for Valenzuela". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  11. Khan, Alex (7 July 1985). "Fran's Valentine stamped herself the top filly in the..." United Press International. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  12. Hammersly, Michael (16 November 2011). "Fran's Valentine stirs reverie". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
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