The Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes is set to take place at Santa Anita Park on January 18, 2025. This race offers a purse of $125,000 and is open to Golden State Series eligible California-bred or California-sired four-year-olds and upward. The race is run over a distance of six furlongs.
Race Details:
- Purse: $125,000
- Distance: Six Furlongs
- Eligibility: Golden State Series eligible California-bred or California-sired four-year-olds and upward. By subscription of $100 each if made on or before Thursday, January 2, 2025, closed with 11 or by Supplementary nomination of $25,000 due at time of entry for Non-Golden State Series eligible horses or $2,500 for Golden State Series eligible horses, closed with 11.
- Weight: 124 lbs
- Allowances: Non-winners of a Sweepstakes allowed 2 lbs. Non-winners of two races other than Maiden, Claiming, or Starter allowed 4 lbs1. Allowance Stakes starting preference will be given to horses that have accumulated the highest earnings.
- Trophy: Awarded to the owner of the winner.
- Closed: Saturday, January 4, 2025, with 24 nominations.
Field Overview:
- Clovisconnection (CA)
- Sire: Vronsky
- Dam: La Darling (by Perfect Mandate)
- Trainer: Blaine D. Wright
- Jockey: William Antongeorgi III
- Weight: 124 lbs
- Owner: Mr. or Mrs. W. Hedrick
- Breeder: William L. Hedrick & Judy Hedrick
- Geezer (CA)
- Sire: Merit Man
- Dam: Pat Olcott (by More Than Ready)
- Trainer: Hector O. Palma
- Jockey: Hector I. Berrios
- Weight: 122 lbs
- Owner: Royalty Stable
- Breeder: Melody Conlon & Hector Palma
- Smiling Beast (CA)
- Sire: Smiling Tiger
- Dam: Betterthanadequate (by Candy Ride)
- Trainer: Brian J. Koriner
- Jockey: Armando Ayuso
- Weight: 120 lbs
- Owner: Brown, Klein or Lebherz
- Breeder: Scott Ross & Mary Ross
- Big City Lights (CA)
- Sire: Mr. Big
- Dam: Champagne Exchange (by Exchange Rate)
- Trainer: Richard E. Mandella
- Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
- Weight: 124 lbs
- Owner: William R. Peeples
- Breeder: Bar C Racing Stables, Inc.
- Haywood (CA)
- Sire: Curlin to Mischief
- Dam: Letmetakeaselfie (by More Than Ready)
- Trainer: Doug F. O’Neill
- Jockey: Edwin A. Maldonado
- Weight: 120 lbs
- Owner: R3 Racing LLC
- Breeder: DP Racing, LLC
Race Favorites:
- Big City Lights is the favorite with odds of 2/5. He has shown consistent performance and is unbeaten since blinkers were added.
- Clovisconnection is another strong contender, having shown promise in recent races.
Key Contenders:
- Smiling Beast has shown potential with a strong debut.
- Geezer and Haywood complete the field with solid performances in their recent races.
