Big favorites in both divisions of Arizona futurity

PHOENIX - Cave Springs and El Mirage figure to be prohibitive favorites in their respective divisions of the $40,000 Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Futurity at Turf Paradise Saturday.

Cave Springs leads a field of 12 2-year-old fillies in race 6, while El Mirage heads 12 juvenile males in race 8. The races are for Arizona-bred 2-year-olds at six furlongs.

Cave Springs, owned by Dennis Weir and trained by Kevin Lewis, rallied strongly after a troubled start in her debut here Oct. 22, losing by a half-length. She made amends Nov. 16 when she broke alertly to stalk the pace in fourth, took over turning for home under Mick Ruis, and drew off to win by 8 1/4 lengths while under wraps. Ruis has the call again on Saturday.

Table Mesa and Bjorklund may be the main threats to Cave Springs. Table Mesa easily won an allowance race that served as a trial for this race on Nov. 16, beating Bjorklund by 2o3/4 lengths. She has since worked a bullet half-mile in 46.80 here Nov. 24. Bjorklund won as a 16-1 longshot in the Oct. 20 ATBA Sales Stakes.

El Mirage, like Cave Springs owned by Weir and trained by Lewis, has been dominant in his two starts. He led wire to wire in his debut here Oct. 6, winning by 6 1/4 lengths, then powered away by 15 lengths in his Nov. 16 trial, earning a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. Vince Guerra, aboard for both races, rides El Mirage, the heavy favorite.

Should El Mirage for some reason stumble, Ez Dreamer might be the one to take advantage. Ez Dreamer started his career with a win and a second at Bay Meadows. He came here for a Nov. 16 trial for this race and won easily as the 2-5 favorite under Ruis.