Spooky Channel, recently voted Horse of the Meet, has been assigned 126 pound highweight for the traditional closing day feature, the $30,000 Hasta La Vista Handicap Sunday at Turf Paradise.
 
Spooky Channel, who out polled Phoenix Gold Cup winner Minister of Soul and Cotton Fitzsimmons victor Ohio (who went on to win a Grade I race at Santa Anita) for Horse of the Meet honors, will be conceding from 7 to 14 pounds to 11 rivals for the one mile and seven-eighths turf marathon, Hasta La Vista Handicap.
 
The co-feature will be the $30,000 Turf Paradise Spring Futurity which attracted a field of 11, 2-year-olds for the 5 furlong sprint. Closing day will offer Free Grandstand admission and the post time will be 1:25 pm.
 
The Hasta La Vista
Trainer Clay Brinson was not thrilled with Spooky Channel’s weight assignment, but he also understood it.
 
“’Spooky’ is a perfect four-for-four this year on the grass, including two stakes wins,” said Brinson. “And he’s finished no worse than second with five wins in seven starts here at Turf. So I get the highweight assignment. Still, at the distance, that’s a lot of weight to give away.”
 
Wonderfully bred for the grass, Spooky Channel, who is by English Channel out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Spooky Kitten, was purchased out of the 2016 Keeneland sale for $10,000 by owner Terry Hamilton. The 4-year-old Spooky Channel will be ridden by the meet’s Leading rider, Francisco Arrieta.
 
Among the entrants is last year’s winner Stratton and Pacific Nights who finished second in this race in 2016.
 
Turf Paradise Spring Futurity
Of the ten entrants, six are fillies, and only two have their maiden wins, Arizona Sun and Bootytama, both fillies.

There was a mix of a little of everything as favorites and upsetters shared the five stakes laurels on Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders’ Day Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
Stakes Recaps
 
$38,400 Joanne Dye Oaks
Trainer Kevin Eikleberry kicked off the by finishing one-two-three with Let Me Fly ($3.80) Star Sundae and Diva’s Diva. Ridden by Ry Eikleberry, the 3-year-daughter of Ez Dreamer covered the 7 ½ furlongs over firm turf in 1:32.29 for owners Lloyd Yother, William Matthews, Marvin Fleming and Eikleberry.
 
$50,000 Gene Fleming Derby
Scooting free from a quartet of horses inside the sixteenth pole, Tawnja Elison’s Todo Es Toro ($12.40) with Jose Leon up got the black-type win for trainer Jack McCartney. The 3-year-old son of Line of David raced the 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.28. Bold Flame was second and Keyson third.
 
$30,000 Dwight D. Patterson
In a nose bobber, Beat the Heat ($13.80) and Scott Stevens got the nod over 3-5 favorite Thegloryisallmine with Yo Y Me third. Owned and bred by Triple AAA Ranch and trained by Lymon Perren, the 4-year-old son of Uh Oh Bango covered the 1 1/16 miles over the lawn in 1:42.81.
 
$30,000 Lyman & Bradley Rollins Handicap
The same owner-trainer-jockey consortium that won the Joanne Dye to start the day did an encore with 2-5 favorite Fortified Effort ($2.80) with 25-1 shot Midnight Officer finishing second and the pacesetting JP Rocker third. A 4-year-old son of Ez Effort, Fortified Effort raced the 6-furlongs on 1:10.3.
 
 
$30,000 Ann Owens Distaff Handicap
Notching her third consecutive win, Raging Lady ($6.60) with leading rider Francisco Arrieta up for owners Jesus Torres and trainer Fernando Gamez, put forth a game effort to hold safe the closing duet of Littleststerdon’tu and Sierrita. The 5-year-old mare covered the 6-furlongs in 1:10.3.

Over $210,000 in purse money will be up for grabs on Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders’ Day Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
The annual celebration of the state’s thoroughbred breeding industry includes five stakes among the nine race agenda. Post time is 1:25 pm.
 
The five stakes include: $30,000 Joanne Dye Breeders’ Oaks, 7 ½ furlongs (turf); $50,000 Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby, 1 1/16; $30,000 Dwight D. Patterson Handicap, 1 1/16; $30,000 Lyman & Bradley Rollins Handicap, 6 furlongs and the $30,000 Ann Owens Distaff Handicap, 6 furlongs.

The Lutheran Church of the Master in Phoenix is once again holding its annual Easter Sunrise Service at Turf Paradise on Sunday April 21. It is a tradition that began 57 years ago and continues to this day.

When the church opened in 1962, its building didn’t have enough room to accommodate an Easter service.  The church asked Turf Paradise, which opened in 1956, if it could serve as the location.  Turf Paradise agreed and a Phoenix tradition was born.
 
The service begins at 6am in the third floor grandstand providing parishioners a breathtaking view of the sunrise over the track.

The service is open to all faiths. Pastor Randy Wahl will be officiating. Turf Paradise is located at 1501 West Bell Road in Phoenix.


Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia stated, “This is a one of a kind Easter service with a truly unique backdrop. Turf Paradise is honored to once again be hosting this service.”
The service takes place in the outdoor third floor grandstand overlooking the beautifully landscaped track, with its lagoon and palm trees, and the surrounding mountains providing an inspiring backdrop.

There is no live racing on Easter Sunday.

Turf Paradise opened its doors in 1956 and has operated at the same location (19th Avenue and Bell) ever since making it Arizona’s first sports franchise.