After a dicey offseason, Turf Paradise begins 57-day meet

PHOENIX – Basically given up for dead last summer after a prospective buyer backed out, Turf Paradise is ready to make a comeback. A 57-day meet has been approved, and after scrambling to get its ducks in a row, the Phoenix track will rise from the ashes on Monday.

The track is still owned by Jerry Simms after another potential sale, which materialized in September, collapsed just a few weeks ago.

The meet is scheduled to run through May 4, the date of the Kentucky Derby, with live racing on a Monday-through-Thursday basis.

Simms has owned the track, which sits on a very valuable plot of land, since 2000. He has said he is looking to sell the track so he can retire but decided to postpone his plans “because of the many stakeholders in Arizona who want racing to continue.”

General manager Vince Francia said the upcoming meet’s importance can’t be overstated. “It will determine the future of Turf Paradise and the direction of horse racing in Arizona.

“The purse structure is the best ever at $190,000 a day, up from $150,000 per day the previous meet. We anticipate stabling 1,100 horses.”

Sprinters top opening day

The opening-day feature is the $60,000 Hank Mills Sr. Stakes, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up. It drew a field of 12, with a number of West Coast shippers seemingly holding the edge.

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Principe Carlo, owned by Mia Family Racing Stable and Rockingham Ranch and trained by Justin Evans, may be the one to beat. The 8-year-old gelded son of Coil has been knocking heads with some toughies in California, including a fourth-place finish to multiple stakes winner The Chosen Vron in the California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Jan. 13.

Principe Carlo, who will be ridden by Luis Negron, was twice Grade 2-placed in 2022.

Peaceful Waters, a 5-year-old ridgling son of Dialed In owned by Hronis Racing LLC and trained by John Sadler, gets back to dirt after fading to 12th in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez on turf at Santa Anita. That was his first time on turf and he apparently didn’t thrive on it.

The return to dirt surely helps, and a bullet work Jan. 19 at Santa Anita hints there are no ill effects from his last outing. Luis Contreras rides.

Santos to Wilson is another Southern California invader. A 6-year-old gelded son of Gemologist owned by Amaty Racing Stables and trained by Vann Belvoir, he is coming off three straight good efforts vs. midrange claimers. Jose Valdivia Jr. will be aboard.

The main local hope is Truth Seeker, an 8-year-old gelding owned by Hole-In-One-Racing Stables LLC and trained by Rafael Barraza. Not only is the son of Into Mischief the defending champ, he’s a perfect 5 for 5 at Turf Paradise.

Truth Seeker ran on for fourth in a stakes at Zia Park last time out Nov. 28.

Minister of Soul, a 10-year-old gelded son of Ministers Wild Cat, is well known locally having won nine times on this track, including multiple stakes. He’s owned and trained by Esteban Martinez and comes off a third in a stakes at Sunland Park.

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