U. S. S. Valor
Bay Colt / January 31st, 2024 in KY / by War of Will out of Spangled Banner
$352,050
2026 earnings
104
speed figure
67%
2026 wins
racing Record
2026 Stats
Career Stats
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2
Firsts
2
0
Seconds
0
1
Thirds
1
0
Unplaced
0
3
Starts
3
$352,050
Earnings
$352,050
$117,350
Earnings / Start
$117,350
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Bio
U. S. S. Valor rallied to finish third in his career debut sprinting 6 ½ furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 8, 2026, coming up short by three-quarters of a length. He returned in a seven-furlong dirt maiden race Sept. 5 at the Spa and turned in one of the meet’s dazzling performances, exploding in the stretch to win by 13 ¼ lengths.
U. S. S. Valor rallied to finish third in his career debut sprinting 6 ½ furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 8, 2026, coming up short by three-quarters of a length. He returned in a seven-furlong dirt maiden race Sept. 5 at the Spa and turned in one of the meet’s dazzling performances, exploding in the stretch to win by 13 ¼ lengths.
That effort gave owner/breeder Team Valor International and trainer Shug McGaughey the confidence to start U. S. S. Valor in the Oct. 3 one-mile Champagne Stakes, held around one turn at Belmont Park. U. S. S. Valor faced a compact field in the Champagne led by the colt that defeated him in his debut, Gaudreau, and was sent off as the odds-on post-time favorite in the race.
U. S. S. Valor trailed the field early before moving up in the turn but found himself bunched in behind several horses entering the stretch. Jockey Manny Franco aggressively moved his mount into contention and once U. S. S. Valor found running room, he surged past stretch leaders Gaudreau and Club Reign to win going away by 6 ½ lengths. He earned a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Oct. 30 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by TAA and 10 qualifying points toward the 2027 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve with the victory.
Kentucky-bred U. S. S. Valor is a son of Grade 1 winner War of Will and is out of the winning Tiz Wonderful mare Spangled Banner.
