Big maiden winners graduate in stakes

Carlsbad and Clean Hit, both big maiden winners in their debuts recently at Turf Paradise, are now both stakes winners in their second career starts as each successfully made the big class leap Saturday, with Carlsbad romping in the $54,832 2-year-old filly division of the Arizona Breeders' Futurity and Clean Hit proving an easy winner in the $58,878 2-year-old colt and gelding division.

Carlsbad, owned and bred by Dennis Weir and trained by Kevin Lewis, bounced out of the gate in her six-furlong division, opened up early, and just kept going under Daniel Vergara, eventually cruising home 14 1/4 lengths in front. Keyless ran on for second with Towson third in the field of 10 juvenile fillies. Carlsbad ran the distance in 1:09.44 and paid $4 as the favorite. The winner's share of $27,526 pushes her career earnings to $34,126.

Clean Hit's victory may not have been as visually impressive, but the Triple AAA-bred and -owned runner still dominated the proceedings for trainer Kory Owens. He stalked the pace early, moved up to take the lead going into the far turn, and expanded his margin from there, eventually reporting home five lengths in front under Glenn Corbett. HIdden Bounty, the 6-5 favorite, rallied to be second, a nose in front of Attleboro in the field of 11.

Clean Hit ran the six furlongs in 1:09.88 under Glenn Corbett. He paid $6.20 as the second choice, and the winner's share of $29,492 pushes his career bankroll to $33,692.