ARCADIA, Calif. (May 18, 2025) – Irish O’Brien winner Prancingthruparis and stakes-winning CTBA January Sale topper Shocking Grey are entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
Prancingthruparis is by Sir Prancealot, out of the Bellamy Road mare She’s a Big Winner, was bred by owners SAF Racing, Ciaglia Racing LLC & H. Crusberg and trained by Peter Eurton. She has five wins in 13 starts, earnings of $294,050 and is coming off a win in the Mar. 16 Irish O’Brien.
Shocking Grey was briefly at the center of attention in California racing in mid-January. She won the first stakes of her career in the $126,500 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Jan. 18 in her 14th start. Three days later, she was purchased for $170,000 at the CTBA Winter Mixed Sale in Pomona, the most expensive hip of the one-day auction.
Trainer George Papaprodromou is hopeful that the one-mile distance of the Fran’s Valentine is a realistic goal after a fourth-place finish in a May 5 optional claimer down the hillside turf course.
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“The other day, she was a little far back,” Papaprodromou said on Friday. “Turning for home, she had to swing wide and she finished well. The extra distance should help her. I think she’ll like it.”
Owned by Rockingham Ranch, Shocking Grey has won 3 of 16 starts. Her first two wins were at a mile on turf in consecutive starts against California-bred fillies and mares in a maiden race and an allowance race in January 2023.
Shocking Grey, trained for much of her career by Jeff Mullins for owner and breeder Don Valpredo, lost her next eight starts before recording a minor upset at 8-1 in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf.
Valpredo died last fall. His racing and breeding stock was dispersed at the January sale.
In the Fran’s Valentine Stakes, Shocking Grey is part of a field of seven that includes the Papaprodromou-trained Sneaker, who was third in the Grade 3 Royal Heroine Stakes at a mile on turf on April 26; and Prancingthruparis, who won the Irish O’Brien Stakes for statebred fillies and mares on the hillside turf course in her last start on March 16. Shocking Grey was fifth by 3 1/4 lengths in the Irish O’Brien.
Papaprodromou rates Sneaker as a filly who is “going to be tough” in the Fran’s Valentine.
“Sneaker is doing great. She got into a little trouble on the first turn last time and got tied up a bit,” he said. “She ran against open company and ran a good race. Now, against Cal-breds, it will be easier.”
Sneaker is by Oscar Performance, out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Lime Beach, was bred by Fountain of Youth Breeding, is owned by R L Stables and trained by George Papaprodromou. She has three wins in 13 starts, earnings of $201,948 and is coming off a third in the Apr. 26 Royal Heroine. She was fifth in this race last year.
Cornelia Fort is by Grazen, out of the Unusual Heat mare An Unusual Group, was bred by Nick Alexander, is owned by Greenway Racing Stables LLC, Branch, William A., Catone, Richard and Mathis, Andy and trained by Mathis. She has four wins in 26 starts, earnings of $272,738 and is coming off a second in a May 2 optional claimer. She was third in this race last year.
Ashleys Sandcastle is by West Coast, out of the More Than Ready mare Sandi’s Ready, was bred by PT Syndicate #1, is owned by Veranda Stables and trained by Phil D’Amato. She has two wins in 17 starts, earnings of $131,220 and is coming off a win in a Jan. 31 optional claimer.
Blevys Tiger is by Smiling Tiger, out of the Coil mare Recoiling, was bred by Martin Bach & Daniel Weiner, is owned by Weiner and trained by Manuel Badilla. She has four wins in nine starts, earnings of $141,460 and is coming off a win in a May 4 optional claimer.
Quantum Innergy is by Clubhouse Ride, out of the Wildcat Heir mare Wild Caroline, was bred by James Shenouda, is owned by Innergy Racing Corp and Zephyr Racing LLC and trained by Antonio Garcia. She has three wins in 14 starts, earnings of $140,240 and is coming off a third in a May 2 optional claimer. Her full sister, Fibonaccis Ride, is entered in the Melair Stakes.