Sweet Dash Freda (#7), under jockey Cruz Mendez, drives to victory in the $137,00 PCQHRA Breeders' Derby at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© William Zuazo

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—OCTOBER 1, 2022– Valeriano Racing Stables’ outstanding season continued after Sweet Dasha Fire won the Grade 2, $137,000 PCQHRA Breeders Derby on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Bred by S-Quarter K LLC, Sweet Dasha Fire was purchased privately by Valeriano Racing earlier this year from her breeders and the filly has proven to be a fine acquisition. She was a solid fourth for her new owners in the $180,000 Governor’s Cup Derby on July 31 and then returned to win her trial to the PCQHRA Breeders Derby on September 10.

Her winning effort in the final was all class, as the full sister to 2015 AQHA World Champion Heza Dasha Fire broke sharply from post number six, took the lead shortly after the start, and went on to score a ½ length victory as the 9-5 favorite.

Ridden by Cruz Mendez for trainer Jose Flores, Sweet Dasha Fire earned $53,340 for the win to take her career earnings to $159,065. This was the Washington-bred filly’s fourth win in 12 starts and the first stakes win of her career. She covered the 400 yards in :19.831.

The winning connections of Sweet Dasha Freda accept the PCQHRA Breeders' Derby stakes trophy at Los Alamitos.
© William Zuazo

For Valeriano Racing Stables, Sweet Dasha Fire’s stakes winning outing adds to their lofty accomplishments in 2021. The racing operation won the Grade 1 All American Derby and Grade 1 Rainbow Derby with A Pollitical Candy V and finished second in the Grade 1 All American Futurity with Sicario V. For the year, their horses have won 16 races and finished in the money in 37 of 58 starts for earnings of $1,487,919.

Howard Nichols’ Jess Being A Friend, the runner-up in last year’s Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, was fourth at the start but he accelerated from there to finish second. Ridden by Rodrigo Aceves for trainer Elena Andrade, Jess Being A Friend earned $21,590 for their second place finish.

Trained by John Cooper for Barry Woodhouse, Insider Information broke alertly, challenged gamely, and crossed the wire in third. He earned $15,240 for running third.

Sweet Tess and Corona Yo finished in a dead heat for fourth. Benevolent, Look Up, and Favorite Habit completed the field. Over Again was scratched.

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For more info, please contact larace@losalamitos.com. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @losalracing or visit us online at losalamitos.com.