| BLUE BOMBER Hasta La Vista Handicap Turf Paradise Phoenix, Arizona May 8, 2016 Race #09 Purse $25,000 1-7/8 Miles-Turf 3:11.25 Jim McFadyen, Owner Robertino Diodoro, Trainer Natasha Coddington, Jockey Pacific Nights (2nd) La Swift (3rd) $6.20 $3.80 $3.60 Order of Finish - 5, 8, 2, 4 Please Give Photo Credit To: / Coady Photography |
With Blue Bomber winning the $27,500 Hasta la Vista Handicap, the traditional final race of the season, Turf Paradise closed out its 60th season of racing.
Natasha Coddington and Blue Bomber ($6.20) led every step of the way of one mile and seven-eights Hasta La Vista with Pacific Nights finishing second a neck behind the winner and La Swift third in the field of ten. Owned by Jim McFadyen and trained by Robertino Diodoro Blue Bomber covered the marathon distance in 3:11.25. One race earlier, the filly McKenzie Honey ($7.60) with Martin Bourdieu aboard upstaged the boys in winning the $53,558 ATBA Sales Stakes. Yo Y Me finished second and Grass and Cactus third in the field of ten 2-year-olds. Owned by Barbara Eakin and trained by Jonathan Nance, McKenzie Honey covered the five furlongs in 59.19. Meet Leaders Scotts Stevens won his second consecutive leading rider’s title with 118 victories. For Stevens, 55, it was his eighth title overall. Robertino Diodoro captured his third leading trainer’s title with 109 wins. Diodoro set the record for most win in a meet with 128 in 2014. Charles Garvey, a main client of Diodoro, took down his third owner’s title with 58 winners. The Karl Krieg-owned, Valerie Lund-trained Absolutely Cool was voted Horse of the Meet. Simulcasting will continue throughout the summer with live racing returning October 15.
America’s most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby to be run this Saturday and Sunday’s Hasta la Vista Handicap, bring Turf Paradise’s 60th racing season to a close this weekend.
Saturday’s Run for the Roses Churchill Downs’ $2 million Kentucky Derby, celebrating its 141st renewal, is expected to attract a capacity field of 20 horses with a tentative post time of 3:24 pm. The one mile and one- quarter classic for 3-year-olds will be simulcast on track at Turf Paradise and at all 65 OTB sites throughout Arizona. On track, gates will open at 7:15 am with Churchill Downs’ first simulcast at 7:30 am. The first live race is set for 11:30 am. The first 5,000 fans will receive a free Kentucky Derby commemorative glass listing the names of the previous 140 Kentucky Derby winners. Free multiple bounce inflatables will be available for the kids. The traditional Derby drink, the mint julep, will be available. Grandstand admission on Derby Day is $5. Sunday’s Closing Day A regular post time of 1:25 pm will be in effect closing day. Grandstand admission will be free. Two stakes will highlight closing day’s nine-race card: The $35,000-added ATBA Spring Sales Stakes and the $25,000-added Hasta la Vista Handicap. ATBA Sales Stakes A field of 11 two-year-olds will line up for this 5 furlong test, which will go as the eighth race. The 11 entrants are divided among three fillies and eight colts and geldings. All 11 came out of one of two April 19 trial races which produced two winners, French General and the filly McKenzie Honey. Trainer Dan McFarlane, who’s won this race the last two years and three years overall, will be represented by the Rocky Bar filly Spotlight Gal and Jack Mormon. Hasta la Vista The traditional final live race on the last day of the race meet, and one of the longest turf stakes in America at one mile and seven-eights, the Hasta la Vista, which is celebrating its 60th running, attracted a field of 10 marathoners. The question is: Can Blue Bomber do it again? In the April 2nd Wildcat Handicap at 1 3/8 miles (turf) Blue Bomber opened up a 20-length lead and went on to win the traditional Hasta la Vista prep by two lengths. Also entered is Sir Searsucker, who finished second to Blue Bomber in the Wildcat.
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