Under a heady ride from Geovanni Franco, Prospector’s Blues held off a cavalry charge of horses to win the $50,704 Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby on Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders’ Day Saturday at Turf Paradise.
The day’s nine-race card was devoted exclusively to state bred horses.
Getting the jump on 3-5 favorite Jungle Java on the stretch turn, Franco was able to save ground and get Prospector’s Blues ($5.80) to change gears and hold off the late charge of Prater Sixty Four by a half-length in the field of eight 3-year-olds. Jungle Java, drifting wide at the head of lane, came back on but too late and finished third in the group of four horses chasing Prospector’s Blues to the wire.
Trained by Robert Hazel for Michael Feigenbaum, Prospector’s Blues covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.98 while winning for the third time in seven starts for earnings of $73,980
$35,000 Dwight D. Patterson Handicap
Last year’s defending champion of this race and this year’s prohibitive 1-9 favorite, Red Zeus ($2.20) had everyone holding their breath as Kelly Bridges just got the 5-year-old up by a photo-finish nose to collar the front running G Faikir at the wire with Silvanus third in the field of six.
Owned and bred by Peggy Hopwood and trained by Dan McFarlane, Red Zeus, covered the 1 1/16 miles over firm turf in 1:43.87. The 5-year-old son of Red Sky’s has won eight of 38 starts for earnings of $274,393
$35,000 Joanne Dye Stakes
Graduating from maiden claiming to a claiming victory, Worthy Grapes ($5.00) stepped it up a to stakes-win notch by registering a 2 ¼ length win over Myrna Lou with Anita Sunset third in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies.
Ridden by Daniel Vergara for Eric Kruljac and owner Peter Mizioch, Worthy Grapes covered the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:17.36 for her third tally in seven starts for earnings of $59,985.
$35,000 Ann Owens Distaff
One stake race later Vergara was in the winner’s circle again, this time with dominant race mare Tribal Gal ($3.60) who won by a widening eight lengths for Kory Owens and owner John Pendergast.
Unwritten Law rallied for second and Camille finished third in the field of seven fillies and mares.
Tribal Gal, who was winning for the ninth time in 25 efforts, raced the 6-furlongs in 1:08.17 and now has earnings of $367,801.
$35,000 Lyman & Bradley Rollins Handicap
The early fast fractions of Rockin Home set the race up for the closing punch of 10-1 upsetter Jamaican Memories ($23.80) with Jorge Carreno up, winning by 1 ½ lengths over Rocked Twice. Rockin Home saved third in the field of eight older horses.
Owned by Carol and James Brolin and trained by David Van Winkle, Jamaican Memories, a 7-year-old son of Slew City Slew, was winning for the eighth time in 52 outings and has earnings of $205,199.
The day’s nine-race card was devoted exclusively to state bred horses.
Getting the jump on 3-5 favorite Jungle Java on the stretch turn, Franco was able to save ground and get Prospector’s Blues ($5.80) to change gears and hold off the late charge of Prater Sixty Four by a half-length in the field of eight 3-year-olds. Jungle Java, drifting wide at the head of lane, came back on but too late and finished third in the group of four horses chasing Prospector’s Blues to the wire.
Trained by Robert Hazel for Michael Feigenbaum, Prospector’s Blues covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.98 while winning for the third time in seven starts for earnings of $73,980
$35,000 Dwight D. Patterson Handicap
Last year’s defending champion of this race and this year’s prohibitive 1-9 favorite, Red Zeus ($2.20) had everyone holding their breath as Kelly Bridges just got the 5-year-old up by a photo-finish nose to collar the front running G Faikir at the wire with Silvanus third in the field of six.
Owned and bred by Peggy Hopwood and trained by Dan McFarlane, Red Zeus, covered the 1 1/16 miles over firm turf in 1:43.87. The 5-year-old son of Red Sky’s has won eight of 38 starts for earnings of $274,393
$35,000 Joanne Dye Stakes
Graduating from maiden claiming to a claiming victory, Worthy Grapes ($5.00) stepped it up a to stakes-win notch by registering a 2 ¼ length win over Myrna Lou with Anita Sunset third in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies.
Ridden by Daniel Vergara for Eric Kruljac and owner Peter Mizioch, Worthy Grapes covered the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:17.36 for her third tally in seven starts for earnings of $59,985.
$35,000 Ann Owens Distaff
One stake race later Vergara was in the winner’s circle again, this time with dominant race mare Tribal Gal ($3.60) who won by a widening eight lengths for Kory Owens and owner John Pendergast.
Unwritten Law rallied for second and Camille finished third in the field of seven fillies and mares.
Tribal Gal, who was winning for the ninth time in 25 efforts, raced the 6-furlongs in 1:08.17 and now has earnings of $367,801.
$35,000 Lyman & Bradley Rollins Handicap
The early fast fractions of Rockin Home set the race up for the closing punch of 10-1 upsetter Jamaican Memories ($23.80) with Jorge Carreno up, winning by 1 ½ lengths over Rocked Twice. Rockin Home saved third in the field of eight older horses.
Owned by Carol and James Brolin and trained by David Van Winkle, Jamaican Memories, a 7-year-old son of Slew City Slew, was winning for the eighth time in 52 outings and has earnings of $205,199.
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