3-year-olds get their shot in Turf Paradise Derby, Arizona Oaks

PHOENIX – At this time of year, much of the national focus turns to the 3-year-olds. It’s no different on a regional scale, as Turf Paradise runs its two biggest races for sophomores Saturday.

Nine males compete in the $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby (race 7), while nine fillies go at it in the $30,000 Arizona Oaks (race 5). Rain is in the forecast for Saturday.

While the 1 1/16-mile Derby lacks a standout, a couple of California invaders look dangerous. Mr Larson, owned and trained by Doug O’Neill, ships in from Santa Anita. He comes off a 6 1/2-length win over $25,000 claimers there Jan. 29, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 67 that is tops in the Turf Paradise Derby field.

That was the first route for Mr Larson, a son of Horse of the Year Tiznow, and he may have found his calling. It’s a great sign that O’Neill does not risk him for a tag again and instead sends him in a stakes.

Mr Larson worked a half-mile at Los Alamitos between races. Rito Almanza, who was up for the maiden win, keeps the ride for the Turf Paradise Derby. They will break from the rail.

Aberdeen Island, trained by Blaine Wright, has never routed, faced winners, or raced on dirt, but as a son of multiple Grade 1 dirt-route winner Quality Road, he should take to the surface and distance. He worked over the Turf Paradise surface on Tuesday.

After a fourth on Golden Gate’s synthetic track Nov. 26 in his debut, Aberdeen Island beat maidens going six furlongs there Dec. 31. Julien Couton, who was aboard for those two outings, ships in to keep the assignment.

The best local hopes include two trained by Dan McFarlane: He’s Munnie, a son of Munnings who romped over maidens here Jan. 30, and Factored In, a son of The Factor who was fourth in the Lost in the Fog here Dec. 31.

Galactic Princess heavy favorite

Unlike the Turf Paradise Derby, the one-mile Arizona Oaks does have a standout – Galactic Princess. She started her career with two easy sprint wins at Arapahoe last July. She then ran third while facing boys in the Gold Rush Futurity there Aug. 14.

Galactic Princess was off until the Dec. 31 Arizona Juvenile Fillies Stakes here. Wearing blinkers for the first time, she rallied to win by 1 1/2 lengths under Isaias Enriquez. She worked a strong half-mile here Monday.

Enriquez stays aboard Galactic Princess, who is owned by Mark Hillman and Eleanor Martin and trained by Ty Garrett.

Her main rivals figure to be Peach Pike, who blasted maidens here Jan. 17 in her only start; Memories Galore, who invades off a fifth against $25,000 claimers at Santa Anita on Feb. 9 and won a maiden race at a mile there last fall; and Not That I Recall, who whipped maidens by nine lengths here Dec. 21 and was then third to Galactic Princess in the Arizona Juvenile Fillies.