ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 24, 2015) – Spirit Rules, the longest shot in the field, outdueled odds-on favorite San Onofre to win Saturday’s $150,000 Donald Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Santa Anita.
Spirit Rules is by Tribal Rule, out of the Danzatore mare Heavenly Lady, was bred by John & Allegra Ernst, is owned by Jeanmarc Murphy, Barbara Accardy, Craig Siedler, Jim Xitco and Mark Xitco, is trained by Paul Aguirre and was ridden by Iggy Puglisi.
“This Cal-bred program is fantastic,” said Aguirre. “We don’t have a lot of things to hang our hat on these days in horse racing, but the Cal-bred program is really something to be proud of. It’s made this horse have a nice career.”
Spirit Rules won by a half length over San Onofre, with Follini finishing third in the field of five.
“Just got outrun today,” said Mike Smith, San Onofre’s jockey. “I stumbled a little leaving the gate, which cost me a clear lead, but if I’d have been running, I don’t think it would have bothered him. The horse hasn’t run in a year. The horse that beat me is a good old horse that’s been running all year and is fit. It’s a whole lot different in the morning, especially when they take it to you early. I was really happy with the way he ran and I think he’ll really move forward off it.”
Spirit Rules has five wins in 16 starts, earnings of $318,378 and was coming off a third in the Oct. 5 Harris Farms. He was fourth in this race last year.
“He really caught a flyer from there. I couldn’t give that up,” said Puglisi. “I could feel that inside horse (San Onofre) really starting to battle back, but my horse ran really good. He’s been lights-out, a really hard-knocking horse.”
For Spirit Rules’ pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/spirit+rules.