Chief Cicatriz prepping in Hank Mills Sr. Stakes

PHOENIX – Chief Cicatriz will be cranking up for a defense of his Phoenix Gold Cup crown at Turf Paradise when he heads the field for the $30,000 Hanks Mills Sr. Stakes on Saturday. The 5 1/2-furlong dirt race drew a field of eight and goes as race 6 on an eight-race program. The card also features the $25,000 Sun Devil Sprint (race 4) and the $25,000 Startac (race 5).

Chief Cicatriz, a 5-year-old gelded son of Munnings, easily captured his first four starts, all in New Mexico, from the fall of 2015 through December 2016, capped by a stakes win at Sunland Park. He then invaded for this track’s marquee event, the Phoenix Gold Cup, last February. He dueled early for the lead and edged clear to win as the 8-5 favorite for owner Roy Gene Evans and trainer Shawn Davis.

That earned him a ticket to Oaklawn Park, where he ran sixth in the Hot Springs Stakes last March and fourth in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap last April. He hasn’t run since then but is proven off the bench.

Chief Cicatriz is opposed by Shrewd Move, the easy winner of the Bienvenidos and Cactus Wren stakes at this meet; Redneck Humor, third to Chief Cicatriz in the KLAQ Handicap at Sunland Park in December 2016 and most recently third in that race last month; and Wildfire Kid, stakes-placed sprinting on turf at Canterbury Park last spring and coming into this off a romping five-length score over $10,000 claimers here Dec. 10.

◗ The Sun Devil Sprint, at 5 1/2 furlongs, drew a field of seven females and features a rematch of perhaps the two best sprinting distaffers on the grounds: Fight to Glory and B C Z Middleton. They ran first and second in the six-furlong Phoenix here Nov. 11, with Fight to Glory prevailing by a length. But in their prior meeting in the six-furlong Princess of Palms here Oct. 21, B C Z Middleton proved 2 1/2 lengths best, with Fight to Glory finishing third.

◗ The Startac, at about 7 1/2 furlongs on grass for 3-year-olds, drew a field of eight, headed by Shane Doan. The gelded son of Stay Thirsty tries grass for the first time. He easily beat maidens on dirt here Dec. 10 and then won the Lost in the Fog Juvenile here Dec. 30.

His opposition includes Redesign, second in both of his turf starts and coming off a 12-length maiden win on dirt here Dec. 20, and Primo Touch, a winner of two turf starts at this distance at this meet and returning to turf after running fourth to Shane Doan in the Lost in the Fog Juvenile.