Absolutely Cool will be flying late in Kruytbosch
PHOENIX – Many of the best sprinters on the grounds go at it Saturday at Turf Paradise in double-barrel stakes action, as 3-year-olds and up contest the $35,000 Luke Kruytbosch while fillies and mares battle in the $35,000 City of Phoenix. The Kruytbosch matches a dozen, headed by Absolutely Cool, while the City of Phoenix drew eight, led by Winning Vision. Both races are at six furlongs.
Absolutely Cool, an 8-year-old owned by Karl Krieg and trained by Valorie Lund, has posted seven of his nine wins over this track. He comes off a strong win in the opening-day Bienvenidos on Oct. 17, lagging far back and powering home over a number of his Saturday rivals.
Other local threats in the Kruytbosch include Bourbon Sense, second to Absolutely Cool in the Bienvenidos; Storm Power, a three-time stakes winner here last fall who hasn’t raced since bleeding and being vanned off in the Turf Paradise Handicap in February; and sprint stakes winners Omar, Jamaican Memories, and Rockin Home.
The invaders Trackattacker and Swiss Idol also look dangerous. Trackattacker was a top juvenile at Emerald Downs in 2014, with four romping wins before he was eased in that track’s top juvenile route, the Gottstein Futurity. After an eight-month layoff, he won a sprint at Emerald on May 10 but hasn’t run since. Swiss Idol, meanwhile, comes here from Northlands Park having won five of his last six.
The Kruytbosch is named for the former Turf Paradise and Churchill Downs track announcer who died in 2008.
In the City of Phoenix, Winning Vision figures to be a short price. Owned by C J Racing LLC and trained by Molly Pearson, she easily captured the Princess of Palms here Oct. 24, beating several of her Saturday foes. Winning Vision has the tactical speed to get a good trip.
Be Proud was second to Winning Vision in the Princess of Palms and looks to gain revenge in the City of Phoenix.
KEY CONTENDERS
LUKE KRUYTBOSCH (RACE 8)
Absolutely Cool (Last 3 Beyers: 81-84-86)
◗ Won the track’s marquee event, the Phoenix Gold Gup, last winter and appears to be as good as ever right now.
◗ Boasts a powerful late kick, and with a number of speedsters lined up here, he should get a hot pace.
◗ Worked four furlongs in 46.80 seconds here Nov. 3.
Swiss Idol (Last 3 Beyers: 83-84-55)
◗ Was claimed for $17,500 on June 17. He was ridden out in his last two wins, which came by 3 1/2 lengths and 6 3/4 lengths.
Trackattacker (Last 3 Beyers: 59-0-73)
◗ He has not been headed in his five wins, all sprints.
◗ Has worked in dynamite fashion here, with six-furlong bullets of 1:11.60 on Nov. 1 and 1:11 on Oct. 23.
CITY OF PHOENIX (RACE 7)
Winning Vision (Last 3 Beyers: 79-90-79)
◗ She’s 3 for 5 here, and her trainer has won with five of her first eight starters at this meet.
Be Proud (Last 3 Beyers: 72-83-31)
◗ Rallied for second in the Princess of Palms but is capable of showing more speed and might be asked to challenge Winning Vision earlier.
◗ She posted a four-furlong work here in 48 seconds on Nov. 7.