Absolutely Cool opens meet by winning Bienvenidos

PHOENIX – Absolutely Cool, whose best moments have come at Turf Paradise, including taking the Phoenix Gold Cup last winter, opened the 2015-2016 meet with a bang Saturday, rallying to capture the $35,000 Bienvenidos Stakes, the first stakes of the 136-day meet.

The race complexion did change when Southern California raider and 5-2 morning-line favorite Ankeny Hill scratched to run at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Owned by Karl Krieg and trained by Valorie Lund, the 8-year-old Absolutely Cool ($6.60), who was third in this race last year, bided his time early under Jake Barton in the 6 1/2-furlong event. He was sitting last as Bourbon Sense set a strong pace pressured by Omar and Shrewd Move, started his run turning into the lane and powered home to grab the lead late, and quickly drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Absolutely Cool was the 2-1 favorite, with just slightly more money on him than on rival Omar.

Bourbon Sense held for second, 2 1/2 lengths clear of Jamaican Memories in the field of eight. Omar pressed the pace but faded to sixth.

Absolutely Cool ran the distance in 1:15.58 on a track listed as wet-fast and sealed after rains Friday and earlier in the day. The winner’s share of $21,049 gives him earnings of $324,727 from 9 wins in 40 starts. The $35,000 Luke Kruytbosch (formerly known as the Caballos del Sol) at six furlongs here Nov. 14 may be next.