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Castletown Wins Swift Stakes in Three-Way Photo

1/24/2015

In gutsy performances by a trio of horses, Castletown got the head bob in a three-way photo to win the $35,000 Swift Stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise.
   In winning the Swift, Castletown ($6.40) stamped himself as the pre-race favorite for Turf’s premier sprint event, the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup, on February 14.
   From the gate break, Castletown, Rockin Home and Omar, a stablemate of Castletown, remained within a half-length of each other until finishing in that order, separated by a head and a nose at the wire.
   Trained by Robertino Diodoro for Mercedes Stables, Castletwon, ridden by Jorge Carreno, covered the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.67. It was the eighth victory in 17 starts for the 7-year-old Castletown who now has over a quarter-million dollars in career earnings.

CastleTown - Swift Stakes

1/24/2015

"CASTLETOWN"
Swift Stakes
Turf Paradise Phoenix, Arizona
January 24, 2015
Purse $35,000
5-1/2 Furlongs 1:02.63
Mercedes Stables LLC, Owner
Robertino Diodoro, Trainer
Jorge Carreno, Jockey
Rockin Home (2nd)
Omar (3rd)
$6.40 $4.00 $3.00
Order of Finish - 11, 10, 6, 5
Please Give Photo Credit To: / Coady Photography

Twelve of the Fleet Footed in Swift Stakes

1/21/2015

A full field of 12 speedsters is scheduled to head postwards in the $35,000 Swift Stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise.

            The Swift, at 5 ½ furlongs, is the traditional prep race for the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup on February 14.
            Coming as no surprise, speed is in abundance in the Swift. The question is, who is the swiftest among the swift who will dictate the lead? Of the 12 entrants, seven like to play the catch-me-if-you-can game. So, something has to give.

            Of the seven horses it appears that Tannersmymuscle and Rockin Home may have a slight edge to be being the leader of the parade. Both horses are capable of ripping off :22 flat opening quarters in :44 half–mile splits.
            Trained by Eric Kruljac, Tannersmymuscle has won four of 11 efforts, including his most recent allowance win locally Dec. 27. The 5-year-old has finished in the money in all five of his Turf starts, including three wins.

            Rockin Home’s resume is just as impressive. The Arizona bred 4-year-old son of Rocky Bar, has won five of eight local efforts, including the Cactus Wren Stakes, Dec. 14 and prior to that, the Arizona Breeders’ Futurity.
            Favoritism, however, should vie between the Robertino Diodoro-trained duo of Castletown and Omar.
The 7-year-old Castletown brings seven wins, a $243,580 bankroll and a perfect two-for-two record locally to the competition. His most recent victory at Turf was an optional claiming race where he coasted to 5 ½ length win.

Omar, who has won eight of 22 efforts, is working on his fourth consecutive victory following wins in Turf Caballos del Sol and Sunland Park’s KLAQHB Stakes. The 6-year-0ld son of Bertrando is a perfect three-for-three locally.
Of those horses tracking the pacesetters, Lotsa Mischief appears in top form following a bullet workout of :58 flat for 5 furlongs, Jan. 13. In his two most recent local efforts, however, Lotsa Mischief lost to both Castletown and Omar.

     The one who may most benefit from a torrid pace is Absolutely Cool. The Valorie Lund-trained 8-year-old veteran knows his way around the local oval, having won five of 21 starts with 7 seconds and 6 thirds. Absolutely Cool won the 2014 Phoenix Gold Cup by racing from off the pace to post a two-length victory over top sprinter LA Weekend.

Rock and Glory - Glendale Handicap

1/17/2015

"ROCK AND GLORY"
Glendale Handicap
Turf Paradise Phoenix, Arizona
January 17, 2015
Purse $35,000
1-1/16 Miles-Turf 1:43.28
Mercedes Stables LLC, Owners
Robertino Diodoro, Trainer
Daniel Vergara, Jockey
Lady Rosberg (2nd)
She's Stella Marie (3rd)
$7.00 $3.40 $2.80
Order of Finish - 6, 5, 2, 1
Please Give Photo Credit To: / Coady Photography

Power Ped - Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile

1/17/2015

"POWER PED"
Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile
Turf Paradise Phoenix, Arizona
January 17, 2015
Purse $75,000
One Mile-Turf 1:35.44
Stepaside Farms, LLC, Owner
Neil Drysdale, Trainer
Flavien Prat, Jockey
Red Zeus (2nd)
Az Ridge (3rd)
$4.60 $3.60 $2.60
Order of Finish - 1, 5, 7, 2
Please Give Photo Credit To: / Coady Photography

Favored Power Ped Wins Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile at Turf Paradise

1/17/2015

The combination of a French jockey, English born trainer and a Kentucky bred horse translated into Power Ped’s popular victory in winning the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Saturday at Turf Paradise.

   The ‘Fitzsimmons Mile,’ named after the late coach and executive of the Phoenix Suns, was enjoying its 11th running in conjunction with the track’s 59th birthday celebration. As is custom, Cotton’s widow, JoAnn Fitzsimmons was joined by many of her husband’s friends and former Suns players in presenting the winner’s trophy.

   Sent off the 9-5 favorite, Power Ped ($4.60), with Flavien Prat up, stalked the early pacesetting Storm Power before unleashing a burst of speed in deep stretch, leaving his nine rivals scrambling for second. Power Ped was two lengths clear of Red Zeus who was three-quarters of a length ahead of Az Ridge. Storm Power tired to finish fifth in the 10 horse field.

   “Turning for home I was in the clear with plenty of horse under me,” said Prat, who is from Paris, France but now, rides in southern California. “So I just let him roll.”

   It was the second consecutive win for the California-based trainer Neil Drysdale, a native of Surrey, England, who won the Fitzsimmons Mile in 2014 with Fire with Fire.

   Owned by Stepaside Farms, the 5-year-old Power Ped covered the one mile over firm turf in 1:35.44, for his fourth win from 18 efforts and earnings of $274,132.

The Glendale Handicap
   After finishing second three times and third once in four previous stakes, Rock and Glory ($7.00) finally got her victory when the hard-trying mare won the $35,000 Glendale Handicap, by three-quarters of a length over Lady Rosberg with She’s Stella Marie finishing third in the field of seven fillies and mares.

   Ridden to a wire-to-wire victory by Daniel Vergara, Rock and Glory covered the 1 1/16 miles over the grass in 1:43.28 for owners Mercedes Stables and trainer Robertino Diodoro.

Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Featured Saturday at Turf Paradise

1/14/2015

Phoenix - Cotton Fitzsimmons’ basketball notoriety always preceded him. As a player of the game, a coach and executive for the Phoenix Suns, Cotton’s love of the hoop game was widely known.

            Cotton also had another passion – horse racing. He loved to handicap the races, bet a buck or two and then smile brightly when his pick won. When the Suns were in town, Cotton found time to mix court practice with some time at Turf Paradise oval.

            So it’s no surprise that his namesake race – now in its 11th running – (Cotton died in 2004) would attract good horses, lured as much by the $75,000 purse as by Cotton’s name on the marquee.

Castletown Wins Swift Stakes in Three-Way Photo

CastleTown - Swift Stakes

Twelve of the Fleet Footed in Swift Stakes

Rock and Glory - Glendale Handicap

Power Ped - Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile

Favored Power Ped Wins Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile at Turf Paradise

Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Featured Saturday at Turf Paradise

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