Carlsbad, Clean Hit headline futurity

PHOENIX - Carlsbad will likely ride the power of her big Turf Paradise maiden win into the favorite's role in the filly division of the $40,000 Arizona Breeders Futurity on Saturday. Things look more difficult in the colt-and-gelding division, as big debut winner Clean Hit collides with recent impressive winner Hidden Bounty and the promising Edmond. Both races are for Arizona-bred 2-year-olds at six furlongs.

A field of 10 is entered in the filly division; 11 passed the entry box for the male version. They go as races 7 and 8 on a nine-race program.

Carlsbad, owned by Dennis Weir and trained by Kevin Lewis, made quite a splash in her Oct. 15 debut here. Things got off to a rocky start as she was fractious in the gate, but when the doors opened she jumped right out to duel for the lead. She dispatched with the other speed and drew off to win easily by 4 1/4 lengths under Daniel Vergara. The Beyer Speed Figure was only 42 but it was visually an impressive performance. Vergara rides again.

Buck's Bounty may be the main danger. Trained by Glen Wasson, she won her maiden at Yavapai Downs Aug. 30 in her fifth start. She came here for a first-level allowance race Oct. 17 and ran on well to be second, earning a 46 Beyer. Ry Eikleberry rides.

Like Carlsbad, Clean Hit made quite an entrance to the racing game, and he makes his second start in the male division of the Arizona Breeders Futurity. Trained by Kory Owens, Clean Hit broke slowly from the rail but still had the speed to be on the lead in his Nov. 14 debut. He opened up and easily held for the 1 3/4-length win under Glenn Corbett, who rides again Saturday.

Hidden Bounty is the proven form of the male division. He's won 3 of his 5 starts, all here, including a debut win back in April when he earned an 81 Beyer. Most recently, Nov. 14, he stalked the pace and drew off to beat a number of Saturday's rivals by 3 1/2 lengths under Wilson Dieguez, who rides again here. His Beyer was 74.

Radford was second to Clean Hit in that Nov. 14 race, and that also marked his career debut. Radford was actually favored that day at 7-5 while Clean Hit went off at 2-1.

Edmond brings plenty of speed into this race. He won his debut wire to wire by 5 1/2 lengths for a 79 Beyer. He then set the pace before finishing second to Hidden Bounty here Nov. 14.