ARCADIA, Calif. –Lightning quick early, the Alfred Pais homebred Brickyard Ride heads a field of eight older horses bred or sired in California going six furlongs in Saturday’s $150,000 Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint.
In what shapes up as a very competitive race, Doug O’Neill’s hard knocking Positivity, Bill Spawr’s veteran 7-year-old gelding Colt Fiction and Librado Barocio’s upstart Principe Carlo are all in good form and could prove formidable at six panels.
Arguably the fastest horse on the grounds for five eighths of a mile, three-time stakes winner Brickyard Ride, who is trained by Craig Lewis, got a much deserved rest following a pair of graded stakes performances at Del Mar–a ninth place finish in the Grade II Pat O’Brien going seven furlongs on Aug. 28 and a close fifth in the Grade I Bing Crosby going six furlongs on July 31.
With his crowning achievement being a scintillating four length score in the Grade II San Carlos Stakes going seven furlongs six starts back on March 6, Brickyard Ride, a 5-year-old full horse by Clubhouse Ride out of the Southern Image mare Brickyard Helen, posted his last win versus statebreds in the six furlong Thor’s Echo Stakes here three starts back on June 12.
With five wins from nine tries at the Cal Cup Sprint distance, Brickyard Ride is 18-8-1-2 overall with earnings of $470,977.
Claimed five starts back for $50,000, Positivity posted his best-ever performance two starts back, as he pressed the pace en route to a neck win in a seven furlong allowance here on Oct. 16, earning a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure. Subsequently second beaten a nose as the 2-1 favorite in the seven furlong Cary Grant Stakes versus statebreds going seven eighths at Del Mar Nov. 21, Positivity, a 4-year-old gelding by Paynter out of the City Zip mare Sam’s Sunny City, should be plenty tough with Flavien Prat riding for the first time.
Owned by C T R Stables, LLC and Omar Aldabbagh, Positivity, who was a stakes winner in his second start at age two, is 12-4-2-0 with earnings of $239,292.
Bred in California by veteran horseman and retired trainer Bobby Mitchell, Colt Fiction, a lightly raced 7-year-old gelding by Ministers Wild Cat, appears to be at the peak of his powers, as he comes off a solid third, beaten a neck by longshot Principe Carlo and Positivity in the Cary Grant. Off at 7-2, Colt Fiction, who is out of Mitchell’s Eddington mare, Devilish Pro, pressed the pace, made the lead a furlong out and just missed in huge effort that resulted in a 91 Beyer Speed Figure.
Owned by Jay and Julie Manoogian, Colt Fiction, who will be making his 16th career start, has three wins from seven tries at the distance and is 15-6-2-5 as he seeks his first stakes win.
Trainer Librado Barocio was “over the moon” following Principe Carlo’s nose victory at 18-1 in the Cary Grant, as it was his first-ever stakes win. Ridden to perfection for the first time by Kent Desormeaux, Principe Carlo was just up in a thriller and will be out to prove the win was no fluke.
Claimed for $20,000 out of a Cal-bred allowance/optional claimer three starts back here on Oct. 9, Principe Carlo, a 6-year-old full horse by Coil out of the Rahy mare Princess Ezra, will cut back in distance a furlong on a track he’s posted three wins and six seconds over in 10 starts.
Owned by Mia Familia Racing Stable, Principe Carlo is 22-7-7-0 overall with earnings of $367,543.
THE DON VALPREDO CALIFORNIA CUP SPRINT WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 9 of 10 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT
- Rifey–Tyler Baze–120
- Peaceful Transfer–Edwin Maldonado–122
- Brickyard Ride–Juan Hernandez–124
- Positivity–Flavien Prat–124
- Loud Mouth–Victor Espinoza–124
- Letsgetlucky–Drayden Van Dyke–120
- Principe Carlo–Kent Desormeaux–124
- Colt Fiction–John Velazquez–122
The Don Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint, one of five stakes for California-bred or sired runners, is part of a 10-race Cal Cup Day program, with early first post time at 12 noon. Admission gates will open at 10 a.m.
Santa Anita Park Press Release
Photo:Brickyard Ride (Benoit Photo)
