Don Valpredo, a longtime leader in the California racing and breeding industry, died Oct. 31, but his enduring equine legacy was on display Jan. 18 at Santa Anita Park—appropriately on a day with five California-bred stakes races, one of which is named in his memory.
GANTZ: California Industry Leader Valpredo Dies at Age 85
The Donald Valpredo Trust won two races Saturday at Santa Anita with homebreds: the third race, a maiden claimer, with Mayacama and the $126,500 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint Stakes with Shocking Grey, who upset favored Stay and Scam with Valpredo's daughter, Alexis Moseley, in attendance.
Reflecting on her experiences with her father at Santa Anita, she said during an in-house television interview, "We were here every morning and we would go to the barns and see the jockeys and the horses. We would be in the winner's circle by the end of the day. It is such an honor to be representing today and with two wins in our pocket."
The Jeff Mullins-trained Shocking Grey kicked clear by 2 1/4 lengths in the 6 1/2-furlong race down Santa Anita's hillside turf course in 1:13.42 under Antonio Fresu. She paid $19 to win.
Fresu said he listened to Mullins' riding instructions. "He just told me the key with this field was just to get her to the outside and let her be free," he noted.
Stay and Scam ran second followed by Moment's Pleasure in third.
Shocking Grey is a 6-year-old daughter of Grazen out of the Unbridled's Song mare Seoul Unbridled. Her earnings now stand at $250,750 from a 3-3-4 record in 14 starts.
Grazen stands in 2025 at Eclipse Thoroughbred Farm in California for $6,000.
In four other California-bred stakes Saturday at Santa Anita:
- William Peeple's Big City Lights romped in the $122,500 Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes under Flavien Prat. The heavily favored Richard Mandella trainee zipped six furlongs in 1:09.46. The Mr. Big horse paid $2.20.
- Sire Grazen and rider Fresu were honored again in the winner's circle after Old Pal, a 5-year-old Grazen gelding, won the $176,500 Unusual Heat Turf Classic Stakes. Trained by Mark Glatt for a partnership of 11 owners, Old Pal completed 1 1/8 miles on the turf in 1:47.93. It was the second career stakes win for Old Pal, who paid $5.60 to win as the favorite.
- Whiskyginandbrandy was elevated to first in the $175,000 California Chrome Cal Cup Derby upon the disqualification of Shea Brennan for interference. The victorious Stay Thirsty chestnut colt, trained by Steve Knapp and ridden by Tiago Pereira for owners Anthony Chacon, Victor Flores, and Terry Lovingier, paid $42.20 to win.
- In the final Cal Cup race of the day, Reddam Racing's homebred Take Another Card impressively shook off traffic trouble and outfinished Miso Phansy by a neck to win the $177,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks. Trained by Simon Callaghan and ridden by Hector Berrios, the 3-year-old filly by I'll Have Another ran a mile on the turf in 1:36.98. She returned $5.80.
