Arizona-breds get their day in the sun

PHOENIX – Turf Paradise puts the spotlight on the local product Saturday, with five stakes for Arizona-breds led by the $50,000 Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby. For 3-year-olds, the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Derby has drawn a field of eight and goes as race 4 on the nine-race card.

Also scheduled Saturday are the $30,000 Joanne Dye Breeders’ Oaks (race 1) for 3-year-old fillies going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf; $30,000 Dwight D. Patterson Handicap (race 6) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf; $30,000 Lyman and Bradley Rollins Handicap (race 7) for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs; and $30,000 Ann Owens Distaff Handicap (race 8) for fillies and mares going six furlongs.

Loud N Proud leads the Breeders’ Derby. A son of Margie’s Wildcat, Loud N Proud comes into this race off two straight wins, including a victory in the one-mile Arizona Stallion here March 30, his first route. Linemans Check, a son of Top Hit, ran third in the Arizona Stallion, a length behind Loud N Proud, and is back for a rematch.

◗ Let Me Fly is the 6-5 morning-line favorite for the Breeders’ Oaks. A daughter of Ez Dreamer, Let Me Fly comes off a second to Loud N Proud in the Arizona Stallion on dirt against males. In her only try on turf, she dueled for the lead and tired to fourth in the Jeff and Jack Coady Stakes here in January. Star Sundae comes off two third-place finishes here sprinting on dirt. She tries turf and this longer distance for the first time. Star Sundae also is by Ez Dreamer, whose offspring often run well on turf.

◗ Thegloryisallmine is 7-5 on the morning line for the Dwight D. Patterson. A son of Horse of the Year Mineshaft, Thegloryisallmine comes off a 5 1/2-length allowance win going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf here March 26. He is 3 for 5 on the Turf Paradise grass. Yo Y Me, a son of Dixie Chatter, comes off a third in the Wildcat at 1 3/8 miles on turf here March 30. Although he is the 6-5 morning-line favorite for the Dwight D. Patterson, Yo Y Me has never won on turf.

◗ Fortified Effort, the 6-5 favorite on the morning line, gives away eight pounds or more to each of his rivals as the 126-pound highweight in the Lyman and Bradley Rollins Handicap. Another son of Ez Effort, Fortified Effort defeated optional claimers sprinting here April 1 and won the Cactus Wren earlier this meet. Fortified Effort captured the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Derby on this day a year ago, but seems better suited to the sprint game at this stage of his career. Jilas Miracle, a son of Jila, was a rallying second to Fortified Effort in the Cactus Wren here, beaten three-quarters of a length. He comes off a third against $15,000 claimers here March 16.

◗ Raging Lady brings raging form into her first stakes try in the Ann Owens Distaff Handicap. The daughter of Top Hit has won 3 of her last 4, including facile victories over a few of these here March 16 and April 2. Among her rivals are Beauty Black, a daughter of Rocky Bar who had traffic trouble when third (awarded second via disqualification) to Raging Lady here April 2; Sierrita, a daughter of Top Hit who won the Cactus Flower versus this kind here Dec. 8 and returns to dirt after a second in a one-mile optional claimer on turf; and Littlesisterdon’tu, a daughter of Top Hit who ran second to Raging Lady here March 16 and then came back to easily beat optional claimers here April 6.