Turf Paradise: Az Ridge closes year with win in Luke Kruytbosch Stakes

Coady Photography

Az Ridge wins the Luke Kruytbosch Stakes at Turf Paradise by 1 1/4 lengths.

PHOENIX – Az Ridge continued to show his versatility regarding trip and surface as the 3-year-old son of Toccet captured Monday’s $35,000 Luke Kruytbosch at Turf Paradise.

Owned by the Sawyer Cattle Company and trained by Dan McFarlane, Az Ridge came into the race already a stakes winner sprinting on dirt, stakes placed routing on turf, and stakes placed routing on dirt.

Going 1 1/16 miles on the main track here under Kelly Bridges, he sat second while Blade Scuffler opened up a clear early lead. Az Ridge pounced on that tiring rival on the turn, opened up into the lane, and kept his rivals at bay, winning by 1 1/4 lengths.

Why Frank rallied from well back to get second, while Mysterious Soul ran third in the field of 11 3-year-olds. Administer, who came here sharp from Northern California having won three of his last four starts to be the 6-5 favorite, stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane, but flattened out, finishing fourth.

Az Ridge ran the distance in 1:42.77 and paid $5.60 as the second choice. The winner’s prize of $20,398 gives him earnings of $110,758 from three wins in 18 starts.