Blue Bomber tries to end meet with a bang in Hasta La Vista

PHOENIX – Blue Bomber defends his title Sunday in the $30,000 Hasta La Vista Handicap, the traditional closing-day event at Turf Paradise. The last race on the eight-race card, the 1 7/8-mile grass event closes out the 130-day season.

Blue Bomber, owned by Jim McFadyen and trained by Robertino Diodoro, is the 121-pound highweight in the field of eight. He led all the way to win this race by a neck last year. Blue Bomber, 6, comes off a wire-to-wire win in the 1 3/8-mile Wildcat Handicap, the traditional prep for this race, here April 1. Regular rider Natasha Coddington will be aboard.

His primary challenge figures to come from Sir Searsucker. Owned by Robert Hersch and trainer Dan McFarlane, Sir Searsucker is tabbed at 118 pounds. He rallied from far back to be third to Blue Bomber in the Wildcat Handicap, beaten by five lengths. Israel Hernandez rides again.

Pacific Nights (118 pounds), owned by F. Clell Sherwood and trained by Lisa Gangidino, was second in this race last year but hasn’t been nearly as sharp since. He hasn’t run since a pair of sixth-place finishes here in February.

Racing returns to Turf Paradise in October.

HASTA LA VISTA HANDICAP (Race 8)

KEY CONTENDERS

Blue Bomber, by Congrats

Last 3 Beyers: 86-85-90

◗ Uses his speed as his main weapon, frequently opening up big early leads and holding on. When he won the 2016 Wildcat Handicap, he led by as much as 20 lengths before holding on to win by two.

◗ Worked a strong six furlongs in 1:11.20 here April 18.

Sir Searsucker, by Shakespeare

Last 3 Beyers: 77-88-89

◗ Left himself with too much to do in the Wildcat, falling behind by as much as 20 lengths before rallying for third. He doesn’t have to come from that far back.

◗ Dueled with Blue Bomber before fading to sixth in last year’s edition of this race, but he may be coming into this running in better form, having won an allowance race here March 5 before the Wildcat.

Parlay Ponti, by Gio Ponti

Last 3 Beyers: 69-67-67

◗ He has won three straight, all against claimers, and makes his first start for connections who claimed him for $8,500 when he won here April 15.

◗ Has shown the ability to sit up close or come from well out of it.