Crested has two stakes in sights
All of the races are expected to produce starters for a trio of stakes at Turf Paradise on Feb. 16 - the Turf Paradise Handicap, Phoenix Gold Cup, and Sun City Handicap.
A local double is the goal for Crested, who ships in from Hollywood Park. In his last start, he was fifth in the Grade 1, $400,000 Citation Handicap on Nov. 23. The Fitzsimmons could be his stepping-stone to the Turf Paradise Handicap.
"Hopefully, we can do some good, and we can run him right back in the other race in about another month," said Wally Dollase, who trains Crested for Horizon Stables. "That would work out pretty good if we could do both."
But the first order of business, Dollase said, is the Fitzsimmons. Crested should go favored after he was beaten just 2 3/4 lengths by Lang Field in the Citation, a 1 1/16-mile turf race that went in a quick 1:39.60.
Crested seems poised to move forward off the race, which was his first start in two months. He also could get a nice pace setup. Crested can stalk Willow O Wisp, who set the pace before finishing ninth in the Citation, and front-runners Billy Allen and Global Trader.
"He likes to lay right off of it," Dollase said of Crested. "He'll be within three lengths of any leader, or he might be even closer. We'll probably be fairly close at one mile."
Brice Blanc has the mount on Crested.
Swift: Contrasting styles
Wind Water and Ducky Drake have each won two stakes in their last three starts, and they will bring different styles into the $50,000 Swift Stakes. The 5 1/2-furlong sprint is a prep for the $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup.
Wind Water used his speed to wire the fields in both the Governor's Cup at Fairplex and the Bay Meadows Speed Handicap. Ducky Drake, meanwhile, closed from last to take the $50,000 KLAQ at Sunland and the $60,000 Zia Park Express.
The pace scenario could favor Ducky Drake, because Wind Water could have front-running company in Trail This, Global Heat, and the rail-drawn Snowbound Halo. Mark Villa has the mount on Ducky Drake, who is trained by Bart Hone. Wind Water will be making his first start for trainer Keith Bennett. In his most recent start, he was third in the $150,000 California Cup Sprint Handicap.
* Star of Whitney and Along Came Jones have run one-two in each of the last two stakes for fillies and mares at Turf Paradise, but in the $50,000 Glendale they will have to deal with newcomers Placid Lake and Angel Craft. Both mares last raced at Hollywood.