Turf Paradise: Red Zeus draws away in Arizona Breeders’ Futurity

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Red Zeus wins Saturday’s $45,799 Arizona Breeders’ Futurity at Turf Paradise.

PHOENIX – Red Zeus, a maiden, picked the right day to run the race of his life as the 2-year-old son of Red Sky’s posted a big upset in Saturday’s $45,799 Arizona Breeders’ Futurity (colt and gelding division) at Turf Paradise.

Owned by Dick and Peggy Hopwood and trained by Dan McFarlane, Red Zeus had been beaten by a number of Saturday’s rivals. On this day, however, the colt bided his time early under Kelly Bridges in the six-furlong race for Arizona-breds, came with a strong run on the outside into the lane, took command at the eighth pole, and drew off to win easily by 3 1/2 lengths.

Anytime, the 3-2 favorite as he invaded from Southern California, stalked the pace and stayed on for second, while Mo Rock, the pacesetter, ran third in the field of nine. Lewiston, the second choice and considered the best of the locals, lagged back and made only modest headway to finish fourth.

Red Zeus ran the distance in 1:11.24 and paid $34.20. The winner’s share for his first win in six starts of $24,012 gives him earnings of $33,784.

Sallyana gets stakes win in debut

Sallyana, making her debut for the Triple AAA Ranch and trainer Kory Owens, showed she was up to the task as the daughter of Top Hit was an easy winner of the $48,404 Arizona Breeders’ Futurity (filly division).

Under Vicky Baze, she dogged pacesetter Rock Those Hips from the start, got the better of that rival, and won by a length over another first-timer Red Rachel. While the margin was only a length, Sallyana was hand-ridden to the line.

Red Rachel stalked and ran second, while Rock Those Hips stayed on to be a clear third (eight lengths ahead of the others) in the field of 10 Arizona-bred juvenile fillies.

Sallyana ran the distance in 1:11.53 and paid $6 as the favorite. She earned $25,311 for her first start.

Page Springs gate to wire in Cactus Flower

It was again speed that carried the day for the brilliantly fast Page Springs in the $26,500 Cactus Flower, but she wasn’t as crazy in her use of it. Often, she’s run off to big leads and held on. In this 6 1/2-furlong event for fillies and mares, she set the early pace, yes, but was much more reasonable about it, going in 21.77 seconds and 44.57 while only having a one-length lead on the turn. However, then she hit the jets and powered home, easily winning by seven lengths as the 1-2 favorite under Anne Von Rosen.

Owned by the Sawyer Cattle Company and like Red Zeus is trained by McFarlane, she ran the distance in 1:17.59 and paid $2.40. Hindu Kush ran on for second, a neck in front of Showstopper Ella who was the chasing Page Springs early in the field of six. The winner’s share of $16,266 gives Page Springs earnings of $187,986 from 7 wins in 13 starts.

* Jamaican Memories, third to last year’s horse of the meet Derive on Oct. 22, didn’t have to deal with that foe in Saturday’s $27,500 Cactus Wren Stakes, and it showed as the 4-year-old proved an easy winner. Owned by Carol and James Bolin and trained by David Van Winkle, Jamaican Memories stalked the pace in the 6 1/2-furlong event under Juan Rivera, took over into the lane with a strong move along the rail, and drew off to win easily by five lengths.Frisky Risky stayed on for second, with 9-5 favorite Az Ridge rallying for third in the field of 10.

Jamaican Memories paid $6.40 as the second choice and ran the distance in 1:15.85. He earned $16,198 to give him earnings of $93,218 from 4 wins in 25 starts.