Unmarked, under jockey Henry Reynoso Lopez, won the $47,500 Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity Sunday night at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–AUGUST 17, 2025–Bradbury Racing and Paul Jones' Unmarked, a solid trial winner when qualifying to the $47,500 Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity, proved that he's a horse on the improve as he returned to the win the final by a neck over Irma Peinado's Dr Valiant Ways on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Henry Reynoso Lopez, Unmarked has now posted three consecutive strong efforts as he finished second against $10,000 claimers on June 15 before going wire to wire in his Claiming Futurity trial victory on July 27.

Bred by Sheryl Edgar, the gelding by first-crop sire Mental Error covered the 350-yard distance in :17.820 while giving Jones his second Claiming Futurity win.

Jones won the 2022 running of this race with Hay Shaker, who would go on to qualify to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.

Just like Hay Shaker was claimed after his victory in this race, Unmarked was claimed for $16,000 by trainer Ramiro Zuazo for owner Oscar Parra.

Amber Mendez presents trainer Paul Jones and the winning connections of Unmarked the Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity stakes trophy. © Orlando Gutierrez

In the Claiming Futurity horses are not eligible to the claimed in the trials but can be claimed for $16,000 each in the final.

There was a total of four horses claimed in this race with trainer Adan Farias getting both Dr Valiant Ways for owners David Schadick and Daniel Lavoie and CD Kellys Cartel for owner Jesus Vega. Terra Famous was the fourth horse claimed with the gelding by One Famous Eagle going to trainer Cesar De Alba for owner Ezequiel Orozco.

While it was great to pick up another win in this race, Hall of Fame trainer Paul Jones knew full well before the race that there was a good chance that Unmarked would also be claimed. However, Jones knows that it's just the nature of this race.

"I really like this race," Jones said. "It gives an option for horses that maybe aren't at the top level to step up and run for a little bit of money. It's a little bittersweet. We won the race, which we are happy about but the horse got claimed. That's part of the gate. He ran a really good and in a really good time. We know going in and we take that risk. Whoever wins the race is going to be a pretty nice horse because it's tough competition at the $16,000 level. We're happy that we got the win. We lost the horse but that's part of the game.

"Henry is a great rider," Jones added. "I'm really happy with him. He's a hard worker and always has a great attitude and gets the job done."

Unmarked earned $19,950 for the win, and when the $16,000 received from the claim is added, his connections earned $35,950 on this night. The California-bred came into the race with $5,812 in earnings. He's now at over $25,000, $25,762 to be more exact. 

Ridden by Oscar Peinado for trainer Alber Valles, Dr Valiant Ways earned $8,075 for running second.

CD Horses, Inc's CD Kellys Cartel, who was the fastest qualifier, broke out and bumped at the start and had to settle for third place. Trained by Jaime Gomez, the Foose gelding earned $5,700.

Terra Famous, MG Cash Payment, Tutitu, Bandera De Mexico, Six Coronas For K, Una Dulce Flora and La Popiz Chick completed the field.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For more information, please get in touch with larace@losalamitos.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @losalracing or visit us online at www.losalamitos.com.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.