Valid Expectations breaks Texas progeny earnings record

Seven-time leading Texas sire Valid Expectations recently passed another milestone in the Lone Star State. In late February, he moved ahead of 1983 Kentucky Derby winner Sunny’s Halo to become the all-time leading Texas-based progenitor by progeny earnings.

As of February 24, Valid Expectations has been represented by 43 stakes winners (and 83 total stakes horses) from his first 13 racing age crops (not counting two-year-olds of 2013), and combined earnings of $29,748,265. Sunny’s Halo, who died a decade ago, established the previous Texas record of $29.5 million, with 39 stakes winners from 20 crops. Valid Expectations stands at Lane’s End Texas near Hempstead for a fee of $7,500.

Valid Expectations was bred in Florida by the late Harry T. Mangurian, Jr., who sold the son of Valid Appeal for $60,000 as a yearling at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s August sale. He was pinhooked and subsequently resold for $225,000 at the 1995 OBS February two-year-olds in training sale. Ackerly Brothers Farm bought him, raced him, and never had a moment’s pause to regret their purchase.

A fast colt with distance limitations, Valid Expectations was conditioned by a young Steve Asmussen, for whom he would win seven stakes at distances from six to eight furlongs, including the 1996 Derby Trial Stakes and Sport Page Handicap, both Grade 3. Upon retirement at age five, he had won 12 of 27 starts and earned $596,092.

Valid Expectations stood his first two seasons (1998 and 1999) at stud in Florida at Mangurian’s Mockingbird Farm before moving west to Will Farish’s Huisache Farm (later named Lane’s End Texas). Two years after his arrival in the Lone Star State, the young stallion found himself impressively atop the North American freshman sire standings by both winners and earnings. Rumors flew that Valid Expectations would be heading off to the Kentucky division of Lane’s End, but Farish assured regional breeders this would not be the case. He has remained true to his word.

In 2012 Valid Expectations was inducted into the Texas Racing Hall of Fame, and in 2013 the 20-year-old stands his 14th season in Texas.