Chief Cicatriz again dominates Phoenix Gold Cup

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last year Chief Cicatriz dominated the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise as a 4-year-old. The 5-year-old gelded son of Munnings had an even easier time of it this year, dominating the marquee event of the Turf Paradise meet.

Owned by Roy Gene Evans and trained by Shawn Davis, Chief Cicatriz ($3.60) broke well as the heavy 4-5 favorite under Andrew Ramgeet, dueled early inside New York invader and Grade 2-placed Chief Lion, set sizzling splits, dispatched with that rival turning for home while holding the fence, then opened up and went on to win the 6-furlong fixture comfortably by 4 1/2 lengths.

Leadem in Ken sat last early but finished well to get second, while Southern California raider Aristocratic stalked the pace and ran on for third in the field of six. Chief Lion tired to fourth.

Chief Cicatriz ran the distance in a sizzling 1:07.95. The winner’s share of $46,035 gives him earnings of $211,721 from seven wins in nine starts. He could be headed back to Oaklawn Park to face tougher foes in the coming months.

* Paddy’s Secret ($16) was trying turf for the first time in Saturday’s $30,000 Sun City Handicap but the daughter of Paddy O’Prado, a graded stakes winner on turf, took to the footing just fine, upsetting some of the best turf females on the grounds.

Owned by Mike Bolduc and trained by Frank Lucarelli, the 4-year-old filly broke alertly from her rail slot under Daniel Vergara to take the early lead, relinquished pacesetting duties to I Came to Praise going into the backstretch, moved up to challenge that foe on the far turn, grabbed a narrow lead and gamely held a slight advantage to the line, winning by a half-length.

Comet Sixty Two rallied for second, a nose ahead of Detail, who rallied from last to get third in the field of eight going a mile on turf. Hip Ninety Three, the tepid 3.40-1 favorite, lagged back but never mustered a run, finishing sixth.

Paddy’s Secret ran the distance in 1:35.78. The winner’s share of $18,042 gives her earnings of $58,995 from four wins in 11 starts.

* Born in a Breeze was no factor when fifth in the Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile here Jan. 13, finishing behind a number of his Saturday rivals.

However, a romping 5 1/2-length optional-claiming win here Jan. 28 earned him another shot at those rivals in Saturday’s $30,000 Turf Paradise Handicap and the 6-year-old son of Leonnatus Anteas showed he was ready for such an assignment, posting the 14-1 upset.

From his rail slot Born in a Breeze ($30.60), owned and trained by Tom Rycroft, broke well under Ismael Mosqueira to sit third early in the 1 1/16-mile turf event as Way Striking set a solid pace, was in a bit tight on the far turn, came out for room to make a run, was again in tight in the lane but bulled through between horses to gamely prevail by a head in a four-horse blanket finish.

Way Striking, third in the Fitzsimmons, set the pace while holding a narrow advantage and gamely kept to his task to hold second. High Security, second in the Fitzsimmons, lagged back and came with a solid run for third, beaten just two heads, while Inside Straight, winner of the Fitzsimmons, stalked the pace, loomed a big threat turning for home and into the lane but couldn’t quite do enough, finishing fourth in the field of nine.

Born in a Breeze ran the distance in 1:41.41. The winner’s share of $17,856 gives him earnings of $269,900 from six wins in 31 starts.