Howdy Kingkowboy impressed in winning the $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby while McKenzie Honey dueled to win the $30,000 Arizona Oaks Saturday over a hard-sealed, wet-fast track at Turf Paradise Race Course.
TP Derby Scott Stevens, tied in a three-way battle for leading rider with Martin Bourdieu and Andrew Ramgeet, with 64 wins each, won the Turf Paradise Derby with Howdy Kingkowboy ($15.00) by over 5 1/4 widening lengths. He’s Munnie finished second and Factored In third in the field of eight, 3-year-old colts and geldings. Owned by Turner Shiew and trained by Molly Pearson, Howdy Kingkowboy raced the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.95. It was the second win in six starts for the Kentucky-bred Kingkowboy who now has earnings of $68,477. Arizona Oaks The other two leading riders, Bourdieu aboard McKenzie Honey and Ramgeet up on Not That I Recall, turned the Oaks into a match race, with McKenzie Honey ($13.60) getting the best of a stubborn foe by 2 ¼ lengths. It was another 4 ¼ lengths back to Sorceress Warning, who finished third in the field of nine 3-year-old fillies. Owned by Jonathan Nance, Barbara Eakin and Steve Smith and trained by Nance, McKenzie Honey covered the one mile in 1:36.80 for her fourth win in eight attempts and $92,726 in earnings.
Three-year-olds, looking to polish their resumes, will be featured in the $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby and $30,000 Arizona Oaks Saturday at Turf Paradise.
The ‘Derby,’ which will be run at 1 1.16 mile, attracted a field of nine and will be run as the seventh race on the eight-race card.. The Oaks, which also drew the same size field, will be run at one mile and will go as the fifth race. Post time will be 12:55 pm. The Derby A one-horse race the Derby is not. But it’s Santa Anita shipper Mr Larson’s race to lose. Mr. Larson is the only two-time winner among the entrants. The Doug O’Neill-trained Mr. Larson has been facing tougher company in the southern California circuit. O’Neill, who won this race in 2013 with Persuasive Paul, has the son of Tiznow, a $110,000 Fasig Tipton yearling purchase, well spotted to enhance his credentials. Trainer Dan McFarlane, a two time Derby winner, last year and 2013, has four entered. Of the four, Factored In and He's’ Munnie appear to have the best chance. The Oaks The Oaks is a more wide-open affair, although Galactic Princess, winner of three of four efforts, will certainly invite attention after her impressive victory in the Arizona Juvenile Stakes. She won that effort in a very mature fashion, considering she was then just a 2-year-old Peach Pike was noteworthy in winning her maiden debut by nearly five lengths Jan. 17. And McKenzie Honey, winner of three of seven efforts including two stakes, returns after a two-month refresher.   They may not be as fast as the horses, but they’re sure fun to watch. The largest Wiener Dog race in Arizona returns Turf Paradise March 11 in the ultimate display of paw power.
Wiener Mania returns to Turf Paradise Saturday March 11th. Sponsored by Arizona Adopt a Greyhound. The Wiener Dogs will be racing from 11:30am to 5pm in what has become the biggest Arizona race in the Wiener Dog circuit.There will also be a full card of live horse racing along with live music and food and drink specials, including $3 beer and $2 hot dogs. And while you can’t bet on the Wiener Dog races, you can still bet on the horses. Right before the races there will be a Parade of Wieners for the racing dogs. There is also a Wiener Dog fashion show in which hundreds of Wiener Dogs strut their stuff on the “dog walk.” The dogs don’t want us to call it a ‘catwalk.’ Wiener Dog owners who want to race their pooch can follow this link to enter. Here are some video highlights of last year’s Wiener Dog races. One of the horse races on March 11th will be named in honor of Kari Young who served as Director of Arizona Adopt A Greyhound for nearly 17 years until she passed away in December. In addition to offering live local racing through May 7th the season also includes: Special Fiesta Sundays featuring Mexican food and music Camel and Ostrich Races March 25th Kentucky Derby Party May 6th Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said, “The Wiener Dog races at Turf Paradise have become so popular, we just hope the horses don’t get jealous.” Francia added, “We also want to recognize the efforts of Kari Young who passed away in December. She made the Wiener Dog races the success they are today. We are honored to host these races as Kari’s husband and friends continue her great work for Arizona Adopt A Greyhound.” Turf Paradise is Arizona’s first sports franchise, and has operated continuously at the same location at 19th Ave and Bell. It offers one of the longest racing seasons in the United States thanks to Arizona’s great weather. Through Off Track Betting networks its races are viewed at OTB locations all over the United States and worldwide.
Undefeated Chief Cicatriz, now a perfect five-for-five, won the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup Saturday at Turf Paradise.
Longshots won the two co-featured stakes: Kera Kera ($29.20) took the $30,000 Sun City Handicap and Aventador ($36.20) won the $30,000 Turf Paradise Handicap. Slow out of the gate and favored at 9-5, Chief Cicatriz ($5.60) then quickly seized the lead with Daniel Vergara up and was immediately challenged by Ankeny Hill, who tired at the eighth pole to finish third. Chief Cicatriz drew clear to a 1 ½ length victory over a fast-closing Saturdaynitelites in the field of 11 older horses. Owned by Roy Gene Evans, Chief Cicatriz, named after a fictional Native American chief from John Wayne’s movie The Searchers, raced the 6-furlongs in 1:09.47. Trained by Shawn Davis, Chief Cicatriz’s earnings stand at $126,810. “He’s perfect so far,” said Davis. “We want to see how good he is, so his next race we’ll be at Oaklawn Park for a stakes in March.” The Sun City Dangerous to let jockey Jake Barton loose on the lead without being challenged. Barton and 13-1 outsider Kera Kera waltzed through soft early fractions uncontested and went on to post a 3 ¼ length victory over favorite Ronda Rocks with Detail third in the field of 11 fillies and mares. Owned and trained by Satchell Stevens, Kera Kera covered the one mile over firm turf in 1:36.44 for her tenth lifetime win and earnings of $169,348. Turf Paradise Handicap With a surging move along the rail at the head of the lane, matched by a swift turn of foo, 17-1 outsider Aventador with Martin Bourdieu aboard, scored a 2 ¼ length win over Ten Carat Rock with Arizona Moon third in the field of 12 older horses. Owned by Mark Staudacher and trained by Kathy Schenk, the French bred Aventador covered the 1 1/16 miles over the turf in 1:41.94. The 6-year-old was registering his eighth career win for earnings of $232,918.
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