While prohibitive favorite Protective Shield was the easiest of winners in taking the $35,000 Arizona Juvenile Fillies, Arizona Moon rallied from last to post a mild upset in the $35,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise

Arizona Juvenile Fillies
            The 3-5 favorite Protective Shield, with Martin Bourdieu up, passed duo pace setters Zenita and Malibu Kash (which finished sixth and fifth respectively) at the head of the lane and then cruised effortlessly to a seven length victory in the Juvenile Fillies’ division, with 24-1 longshot Grindstone Shine and 15-1 Union Girl completing the trifecta in the field of six 2-year-old fillies.
 
            Owned by Tom Grether Farms and trained by Robert Lawrence, Protective Shield ($3.40) who was making only her second start following her maiden win, covered the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:19.13. The daughter of Lookin At Lucky now has earnings of $28,691.

Lost in the Fog Juvenile
            Arizona Moon ($13.00) went from last to first to win the colts and geldings juvenile division by 1 ¼ lengths with Ronald Richard aboard for owner John Campo, III. Senator Robert finished second and Ready Intaglio third among the ten 2-year-olds.
 
            Trained by Stacy Campo, Arizona Moon raced the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:18.15. The son of Macho Uno, who was purchased for $55,000 last year at Keeneland’s September sale, now has won two out of five efforts for $29,913 in earnings.

Since all thoroughbreds share the same birthday – January 1 of each New Year - two-year-olds looking to get a stakes win on their resumes before turning three, will be featured in double stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
            Saturday marks the return of live racing following a two-day Holiday hiatus. It’s also the traditional opening day of Santa Anita. Live race post time will be 12:40 pm.
 
            The $35,000 Arizona Juvenile Fillies drew seven entrants while the $35,000 Lost in the Fog Juvenile attracted a field of 10. Both stakes will be run at 6 ½ furlongs.
            Also on Saturday’s card are double first divisions of the marathon series at 1 1/16 miles with each division attracting full fields of 12 horses. Qualifiers will move forward with the finale being run at 1 ¼ miles.
 
Arizona Juvenile Fillies
            The Robertino Diodoro-trained Star of Munster and the Dan McFarlane-conditioned Heidi’s in Charge appear formidable, given that both have won three races.
            Star of Munster will be making her Turf debut, having campaigned in southern California. The daughter of prodigious sire Tribal Rule won at first asking and then followed with  two optional claiming wins.
            Heidi’s in Charge won her last three efforts, including victories in the ATBA Stakes and Az Breeders’ Futurity. The daughter of multiple stakes winner Ez Dreamer, registered all three of her wins locally.
            Two others worth a look are Protective Shield, who won her maiden outing Dec. 8, recording a 74 Beyer, the best of any entrant.
            The other is Zenita, with a two wins in four starts record, that was claimed from her nearly 11-length maiden victory for $10,000 and then immediately followed with a 5 ¼ length allowance win.
 
Lost in the Fog Juvenile    
            Named after the star-crossed, stakes winning sprinter, who set and holds the track record for the distance of 1:13.55, in winning this race in 2004. 
            Of the 10 entrants, the Diodoro-trained Law Master will attract attention, given that the son of Ready’s Image has not been out of the money in five starts and due to the fact the trainer has won this race the last two years.
            Shipping in from Golden Gate is the Jose Silva-trained Senator Robert, winner of two of six starts.
            Ready Intaglio, conditioned by Eurico Martens, just missed by a nose in his Turf debut on the grass on Dec. 9, earning a 70 Beyer, the best of the field. Prior to that, Ready Intaglio raced competitively at Northland Park and Assiniboia Downs in Canada.
 
Calendar Alert: Mark it down: Saturday, January 16, Turf Paradise celebrates its 60th Birthday with Free cake, Umbrella give-a-way and Kids Fun Park. Turf racing returns following a 30-day reseeding with the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile and $35,000 Glendale Handicap.