ARCADIA, CA – Hronis Racing’s Edwards Going Left took command halfway through the race and quickly left his foes eating his dust, easily taking Saturday’s $150,000 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes at Santa Anita.
Off sharply along the rail under Tyler Baze, Edwards Going Left immediately challenged the heavy favorite, Masochistic, who was running for the first time since last May. Riding under Drayden Van Dyke, Masochistic tried pressuring Edwards Going Left by coming down towards the rail, but to no avail. The pair dueled into the far turn with B Squared to their far outside, and before they hit the top of the stretch, Masochistic had dropped out. With no challenger near him, Edwards Going Left surged forward and ran freely to the wire, crossing first by 6 lengths in a final time of 1:09.74.
“This horse showed some guts today,” Baze said. “Drayden had me in tighter than (crap) down at the rail. I thought I’d be 3 or 4 (lengths) off, but I had to keep my position. This horse just showed guts being a 1/2-length back stuck on the inside. He’s done nothing wrong but what we’ve asked of him.”
B Squared stayed on for second, 1 1/4 lengths past Tough Sunday, with Solid Wager another 3/4 of a length back in fourth. Masochistic faded to fifth, with Country Road completing the order of finish while never factoring.
“It seemed like I went from a lot of horse to no horse,” Van Dyke said. “He just came up empty.”
Trained by John Sadler, the win was the third stakes score for Edwards Going Left and improved his record to 11-7-1-1. Second in the Grade 1 Malibu last out, the 4-year-old gelded son of Midnight Lute has now earned $381,390.
“If you just look at this horse’s record, he’s got seven wins already,” Sadler said. “He’s a winning horse. He’s a really nice horse and runs a good race every time. He’s been a little unlucky in a couple spots, but we’re really thrilled today.”
Edwards Going Left returned $6.80 to win, $4 to place, and $4.80 to show. B Squared brought back $7.80 to place and $10 to show, while Tough Sunday paid $6.40 to show.
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