Az Ridge seeks repeat in Turf Paradise Handicap
PHOENIX – The focus of Saturday’s Turf Paradise card is on the meet’s marquee event, the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup. But there are two other appealing stakes to highlight the meet’s biggest day, as nine contest the $35,000 Turf Paradise Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf and 11 fillies and mares go in the $35,000 Sun City Handicap at a mile on turf.
Az Ridge, trained by Dan McFarlane, returns to defend his crown in the Turf Paradise Handicap. He was a romping winner last year, part of a four-stakes win streak. The 7-year-old Az Ridge looks as good coming into this year’s renewal. He gamely won the Walter R. Cluer on turf here Nov. 28, was a solid fourth on dirt here Dec. 21, and then was a sharp second, beaten just a head by Southern California raider Somethings Unusual, in the Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap on turf here Jan. 16.
His rivals include Sir Searsucker, a winner of four straight at Canterbury, Kentucky Downs, Indiana Grand, and here; Rocked Twice, a big winner of two of his last three, though those came on dirt, and he was off the board in three grass starts; Empire Knight, a sharp third, only a half-length behind Az Ridge, in the Cluer before setting the pace and fading to seventh in the Fitzsimmons; Pacific Nights, a romping allowance winner here Feb. 3; Red Zeus, third in this race last year; and Ride Hard Kowboy, second, a neck behind Az Ridge, in the Cluer and sixth in the Fitzsimmons.
My Blue Sky, the winner of the Chandler on this course in the fall and a sharp second in the Glendale on this course Jan. 16, and Hip Ninety Three, the smart winner of the Queen of the Green on this course Nov. 28, go at it in the Sun City.
My Blue Sky, trained by McFarlane, was a sharp second in the Glendale, beaten just a neck. Hip Ninety Three, trained by F.C. Frazier, rallied to post a 22-1 upset Nov. 28 in the Queen of the Green, beating My Blue Sky, who ran fifth.
Enlightened, a sharp second in the Queen of the Green, could contend if back to that form after finishing seventh in the Glendale.