While Galactic Princess came from off the pace to win the $30,000 Arizona Juvenile Fillies, Yo Y Me earned his victory on the front end to capture the $30,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
Az Juvenile Fillies
Breaking from the 12 post with Isaias Enriquez aboard, Galactic Princess ($12.60) settled mid-pack until launching her bid against the pace-setting Fight to Glory, besting that by one and a half lengths at the wire. Not That I Recall finished third in the field of 11 Juvenile Fillies.
 
Track announcer Robert Fox made the race call memorable when apparent Galactic Princess would overtake Fight to Glory by exclaiming, “Galactic Princess will win this one for Princess Leia,” the heroine of the Star Wars Saga, played by the late actress Carrie Fisher.
 
Owned by Mark Hillman and Eleanor Martin and trained by Ty Garrett, Galactic Princes covered the 6 ½ furlongs over a good but wet-sealed track in 1:17.36. It was the third victory in four efforts for the Colorado bred daughter of Ready’s Image, and her earnings now stand at $54,304.
 
Lost in the Fog
The highly talented and even-money favorite Yo Y Me ($4.20), benefiting from a masterful ride by Ry Eikleberry, won his fourth consecutive race and third in-a-row stakes tally, by overcoming a determined Wine N Divine in a thrilling stretch drive to claim a neck victory at the wire. It was another neck back to All Shacked Up who challenged the winner every step of the early going in the field of ten 2-year-old colts and geldings.
 
Co-owned by William Matthews and Kevin Eikleberry and trained by Eikleberry, Yo Y Me covered the 6 ½ furlongs over a good surface in 1:17.45. The son of Dixie Chatter has never finished out of the money in eight starts while winning four of those and has earnings of $124,515.

Saturday’s New Year’s Eve’s racing program will go out with a bang as three thoroughbred and two Quarter horse stakes will be featured at Turf Paradise.
 
The early Daily Double will feature two Quarter Horse Stakes, the $20,187 ASQA Futurity, for 2-year-olds at 400 yards and the $17,500 Quarter Horse Championship, for 3-year-olds and up at 440 yards.
 
The first of the thoroughbred stakes will be the $22,000 Last Chance Derby, for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. Then there’s the $30,000 Arizona Juvenile Fillies Stakes, for 2-year-old fillies, at 6 ½ furlongs. And finally the $30,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes, for 2-year-olds, also at 6 ½ furlongs.
 
ASQA Futurity
Trainer Matthew Fales has no less than seven of 11 qualifiers in this 400 yard dash, including the winner of the AQRA Futurity, Arizona Icon.
 
Quarter Horse Championship
Fales shows up again, this time with Block N Tackle, a 7-year-old veteran who has won 12 of 31 career efforts.
 
Last Chance Derby
In what may come down to running styles, Cable Jett will try to carry his speed against the mid-pack move of Woodie B Awesome and the late closing rush of Fin de Semaine.
 
Az Juvenile Fillies
A full field of very competitive juvenile fillies makes for an interesting wagering race. The obvious question is, Can Triple AAA Ranch’s Kingsley, who broke her maiden at first asking in the As Breeders’ Futurity, duplicate her victory?
 
Lost in the Fog
All eyes will be on the Kevin Eikleberry-trained Yo Y Me, who’s looking for his fourth consecutive victory and his third in a row stakes win. The betting public thought so highly of this juvenile in his last start, the Az Breeders’ Futurity that over $144,000 was wagering to show on him.
Yo Y Me’s assignment will be tougher this time as a field of 11 line up as the son of Dixie Chatter breaks from the rail.

Turf Paradise is celebrating its 61st anniversary with a party January 14th that includes live local horseracing, free long sleeve t-shirts, live music, food and drink specials (including $3 aluminum bottled beer), a kids fun park, and free birthday cake. Grandstand admission is just $3.
 
Turf Paradise opened its doors at 19th Ave and Bell in 1956. Back then the track was located in what was considered a remote part of Phoenix dominated by dirt roads and desert. Since then north Phoenix has literally grown up around the track and Turf Paradise has continually been ranked among the Top 5 sports attendance attractions. A recent study found that Turf Paradise generates an annual economic impact of $91 million to the state of Arizona.

A big part of the anniversary celebration is the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile stakes race. The late Phoenix Suns coach was an avid racing fan and a regular at the track.

The celebration continues as Turf Paradise hosts Dollar Day on MLK Day January 16th. Grandstand admission, popcorn, sodas, programs, ice cream, and hot dogs are just $1. There will also be live music.
 
On both days the gates open at 11am and the first post time is 12:40pm.

Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said, “After six decades, we’re just getting started. Thanks to all our longtime fans and the new fans who continue discover the sport of kings.”
 
The season also includes:
 
•           Special Fiesta Sundays throughout the season featuring Mexican food and music
•           Super Saturday February 11th
•           Wiener Dog Races March 11th
•           Camel and Ostrich Races March 25th
•           Kentucky Derby Party May 6th
 
Who: Turf Paradise
What: 61st Anniversary Party
When: Saturday, January 14. Gates open at 11a.m.
Where: Turf Paradise 1501 West Bell Road
Why: To celebrate 61st seasons of horseracing in Arizona
How Much: Grandstand admission is just $3
More Info: Call (602) 942-1101/ Online www.turfparadise.com

Front Left-    Israel Hernandez, Shannon Beauregard, Isaias Enriquez, Don French (Kneeling) Ricardo Martinez ,Efran Prado,(Wheelchair Paralyzed in accident last meet at Albuquerque) Dennis Collins, Scott Stevens, (Standing) Vince Guerra, Chase Clark, David Reyes-Frisby, Martin Bourdieu, Erick Lopez, Ron Beverly

Back Left-    Michael Ybarra, Jesus Osuna, Justine Klaiber, Erick Garcia ,Ruben Fuentes, Aubry Green, Andrew Ramgeet, Vanessa Romberg, Jose Rivera, Jr., Emilio Tapia, Giorgio Moreno-Herrera, Bob Dunham (Clerk of Scales)