All Saint eyes a fourth Turf Paradise stakes

PHOENIX – Saturday’s $25,000 Wildcat Handicap at Turf Paradise gives All Saint the chance to do a couple of things. First, it gives the three-time stakes winners this meet a chance to clinch horse of the meet honors. The 1 3/8-mile turf event also gives him a chance to show his versatility as it represents the farthest he’s ever gone and an attempt to improve upon his 1-for-4 turf mark.

Owned by Pascual Gamez and trained by Wilton Whitehouse, All Saint has had a tremendous meet. He was third in his first start of the meet, the six-furlong Caballos del Sol Dec. 4, but has gone on a tear since. He led all the way to win the Hank Mills Sr. at a mile on dirt Dec. 18, the Cotton Fitzsimmons Handicap at a mile on grass Jan. 15, and the Turf Paradise Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy track Feb. 19. Michael Iammarino was aboard for all three big wins and has the call again on All Saint, a 5-year-old son of Skimming who is the 124-pound highweight.

All Saint has five rivals, including Fox in the House and Bear Famous Trip, who just finished first and second in a mile optional claimer on the grass March 25. Fox in the House crossed the wire first by a neck, but he drifted out as he rallied and interfered with Bear Famous Trip, who was moved up to first.

Fox in the House, trained by Tracie Aker, is 4 for 9 on turf (4 for 8 here). He has been beaten by All Saint the last three times they’ve met. Bear Famous Trip, owned and trained by Dale Greenwood, is 2 for 6 on this grass course.

◗ Whiskey Row heads a field of six in the $25,000 Arizona Stallion Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass. Trained by by Joe Johnson, Whiskey Row looms a heavy favorite because he is one of only two in the field to have won on grass, and two of his rivals are maidens. Mighty Buck, the only other one in the field with a grass win, appears his main opposition.