From big longshots to favorites
PHOENIX - Mego and Blueskycat both won big at Turf Paradise Oct. 6, and both were huge prices, Mego at 40-1 and Blueskycat at 20-1. They figure to be much shorter prices among a field of 12 in the filly division of the Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders Association Fall Sales Stakes, one of two stakes for 2-year-olds on Saturday at Turf Paradise. The male division, meanwhile, lured a field of 11 and, again, two big Oct. 6 winners lead the way: Half Famous and Quintons Shocker.
Each race is worth $40,000 and will be run at six furlongs, with the filly division going as race 7 and the male division carded as race 8.
Mego, owned by Bryan Oliver and trained by Doug Oliver, hadn't had much success here or at Canterbury in her first five races. But she may have turned the corner here Oct. 6. She jumped right out to stalk the pace in the six-furlong allowance trial for Saturday's race, took over into the lane, and drew off to win with a Beyer Speed Figure of 55. Adolfo Morales has a return call.
Blueskycat, owned by PDQ Racing Stable and trainer Clay Brinson, came here from Canterbury. In her Oct. 6 trial she also was right on the pace. She took over going to the far turn and won with a Beyer of 56. Like last time, she'll be ridden by Juan Rivera.
In the male division, Half Famous came here off a second against California-bred maidens at Del Mar Sept. 4. In his race here, he jumped right out to a clear lead under Scott Stevens and won by over seven lengths. He earned strong 82 Beyer for owner York Equine II and trainer Raul Hernandez. On Saturday he will be ridden by Michael Iammarino.
Stevens ends up on Quintons Shocker. Owned by Manchester Farming Inc. and trained by Kent Jensen, Quintons Shocker dueled early in his trial and bounded away as the 2-5 favorite to win by over four lengths. He earned an 88 Beyer for that effort, which came after nearly five months off and was his first start with Lasix.
Waltz Time, second to Quintons Shocker after graduating at Fairplex Sept. 20, may be a spoiler under Glenn Corbett.