Three-year-old turf racing will be in the spotlight with the $35,000 Scottsdale and $35,000 Tempe Handicaps, the duo stakes’ features this Saturday at Turf Paradise.
Also in the spotlight Saturday will be the extensively cute Wiener Dogs – over 200 Wieners are signed up - who will be paraded, costumed and, yes, race throughout the day in the family picnic grove.
Of course, the horses will race, too. Both the Scottsdale, for fillies and the Tempe, for boys, is for 3-year-olds at one mile on the grass.
Scottsdale Handicap
Of the 11 fillies entered only five have previously raced on turf (four have won) and eight of the 11 have routed before. Three trainers have double entries adding to the challenge of handicapping an already challenging race.
Starting with F.C. Frazier’s SUM Racer, winner of the Arizona Oaks to the Molly Pearson-trained Myrna Lou, a three-time winner including the Arizona Breeders’ Futurity and an optional claiming race at Del Mar, to the two-time Golden Gate winner Star’s Woman making her first start for trainer Dan McFarlane, this is a race for a case to be made for almost every entrant.
Tempe Handicap
Three trainers have seven of the ten entrants. McFarlane has three and Pearson and Robertino Diodoro have two each.
Attention will be drawn to the Pearson-trained Rock Hard Kowboy, runner-up in the Turf Paradise Derby to eventual winner, California shipper Why Two. Prior to that, the son of Kodiak Kowboy won two starts, both on the turf course.
Diodoro’s first time starter maiden winner Mesa Brute followed his February 3 turf victory with three solid works.
Not to be overlooked is the McFarlane-trained Shrewd Move who will be two-turning for the first time and first time taking to the grass. However, the son of Closing Argument finished fourth in Belmont Park’s Tremont Stakes in June. Shrewd Move’s recent victory came locally on Feb. 2, a 5 ½ furlong romp optional claiming event.
Also in the spotlight Saturday will be the extensively cute Wiener Dogs – over 200 Wieners are signed up - who will be paraded, costumed and, yes, race throughout the day in the family picnic grove.
Of course, the horses will race, too. Both the Scottsdale, for fillies and the Tempe, for boys, is for 3-year-olds at one mile on the grass.
Scottsdale Handicap
Of the 11 fillies entered only five have previously raced on turf (four have won) and eight of the 11 have routed before. Three trainers have double entries adding to the challenge of handicapping an already challenging race.
Starting with F.C. Frazier’s SUM Racer, winner of the Arizona Oaks to the Molly Pearson-trained Myrna Lou, a three-time winner including the Arizona Breeders’ Futurity and an optional claiming race at Del Mar, to the two-time Golden Gate winner Star’s Woman making her first start for trainer Dan McFarlane, this is a race for a case to be made for almost every entrant.
Tempe Handicap
Three trainers have seven of the ten entrants. McFarlane has three and Pearson and Robertino Diodoro have two each.
Attention will be drawn to the Pearson-trained Rock Hard Kowboy, runner-up in the Turf Paradise Derby to eventual winner, California shipper Why Two. Prior to that, the son of Kodiak Kowboy won two starts, both on the turf course.
Diodoro’s first time starter maiden winner Mesa Brute followed his February 3 turf victory with three solid works.
Not to be overlooked is the McFarlane-trained Shrewd Move who will be two-turning for the first time and first time taking to the grass. However, the son of Closing Argument finished fourth in Belmont Park’s Tremont Stakes in June. Shrewd Move’s recent victory came locally on Feb. 2, a 5 ½ furlong romp optional claiming event.
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