Favored Why Two Wins Turf Paradise Derby, SUM Racer Takes Az Oaks
California invader Why Two lived up to his prohibitive favoritism by winning the $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby Saturday at the Phoenix oval. Ridden by Aaron Gryder, Why Two ($2.60) shot straight to the front and had enough in reserve to hold off the late-stretch challenges of Rock Hard Kowboy by a length with Our Brother B.A. another 2 ¼ lengths back in third in the field of eight 3-year-olds. “He got a breather out there,” said Gryder, “and wasn’t surprised by the closers. He’s still learning how to race. ”Trained by Michael Machowsky for the Kagele Brothers and Ernest Marcho, Why Two covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.39 for his second win in three starts and earnings of $81,973.“We’ll look at the Sunland Derby (March 23) for his next start,” said Machowsky. Arizona OaksSUM Racer ($8.00) and Daniel Vergara took the overland, come-from-behind-route to win the $35,000 Arizona Oaks by two lengths. California shipper Bullwinkle Babe held second with SUM Racer’s stablemate Hip Ninety Three finishing third in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies. Trained by F.C Frazier for owner Brent Stapley, SUM Racer, covered the one mile in 1:39.67 while winning for the third time in seven outings and her first stakes win.
Three-year-olds looking to enhance their reputations will be featured in the $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby and $35,000 Arizona Oaks Saturday at the track.
The ‘Derby,’ which drew a field of nine will be run at 1 1/16 miles and will go as the sixth of eight races. The ‘Oaks,’ which will go as the fifth race and be contested at one mile for 3-year-old fillies, attracted a field of ten. Both races will be run on the main track. The Derby Seven locally based sophomores will be joined by California and New Mexico entrants. Among the locals the Molly Pearson-trained duo of Ride Hard Kowboy, winner of two of four efforts including the Chuck N Luck stakes and three-time winner Highway Boss appear with the best chances of contending with a field totally devoid of a clear front runner. The west coast invader Why Two, recent maiden winner trained by Michael Machowsky, is posed to stretch out to two turns and perhaps gather in his first stakes win. The Justin Evans-conditioned Dirt Monster has won two of six while never being out of a top three finish. The sleeper in the field may be Grand Full Moon, winner of three of eight starts including Canterbury’s Juvenile Stakes. The son of Malibu Moon has been favored in six of his eight efforts and has been showing up competitively but failing to get the brass ring. The Oaks All eyes will be on Mercedes Stables’ Freakin Amazing. The daughter of Zensational has only made four starts, while breaking her maiden at Santa Anita. She then won the Az Juvenile Fillies stakes locally but was disqualified from victory due to a drug positive, resulting in a 15 days suspension for her trainer Robertino Diodoro. She then finished fourth as the favorite in the El Paso Times Handicap at Sunland Park Freakin Amazing will be saddled by Diodoro’s assistant Ken Knudsen. Of the two entered by trainer FC Frazier, SUM Racer and Hip Ninety Three, the latter, who won the Angi Go Stakes at one mile in her last start, seems to be a filly on the rise. Trainer Machowsky will send forth Bullwinkle Babe, a winless in seven starts maiden in southern California.
Never take a defending champion lightly.
Let go at 13-1 odds, Absolutely Cool successfully defended his title by winning the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup in a thrilling come-from-behind performance Saturday at Turf Paradise. Last on the stretch turn, Absolutely Cool ($28.60) was asked by jockey Rocco Bowen to let lose against the competitors in front of him and the 8-year-old responded, gobbling up ground and rivals with every stride while posting a half-length victory over Valiant Flame with Omar third in the field of eight older horses. Trained by Valorie Lund for owner-breeder Karl Krieg, Absolutely Cool covered the 6-furlongs in 1:08.75 in winning the Gold Cup for the second consecutive year. “He’s been in the Gold Cup the last four years,” said Lund. “He’s finished twice and now won it twice.” Earlier in the program, Lund won the $35,000 Sun City Handicap with Lady Rosberg ($6.00). Absolutely Cool, a Washington bred, has now won eight of 32 efforts for earnings of $269,698. |
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