ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2012) – Maui Mark returned from a three-month layoff to New York by rallying to win Saturday’s $100,000 Donald Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint at Santa Anita.
Maui Mark is by Unusual Heat, out of the Man From Eldorado mare Dalymount, was bred by Fast Lane Farms, is owned by Carter or Galea, trained by Robert Hess Jr. and was ridden by Garrett Gomez.
“I’m just proud of the horse,” said Hess after his first Cal Cup win. “It’s my first and that means a ton and especially with Mr. Valpredo, we go way back. It’s a real honor.”
Claimed for $20,000 six races back, Maui Mark has 10 wins in 26 starts, earnings of $364,568 and was coming off a fifth in a July 25 starter handicap at Saratoga. This was his fifth win in nine races at Santa Anita.
“We claimed him, took him East, did pretty well, then he injured himself (pulled left stifle),” said Hess. “So we brought him home and freshened him up. I knew he was good enough (to win), minus (favored Derby Gold). However, my horse still was only about 85 percent weight-wise and coat-wise today, so that was a big concern for me. I was nervous.”
Hess said the Nov. 17 On Trust Handicap at Hollywood Park would be considered for Maui Mark’s next race.
Maui Mark ran the six furlongs in 1:09.08 and won by one-half length at odds of 8-1. Ain’t No Other was second and Obsess third in the field of nine.
For Maui Mark’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/maui+mark