Diodoro sends strong pair in Sun Devil Sprint

PHOENIX – Trainer Robertino Diodoro holds a strong hand at Turf Paradise Thursday as he sends out two top contenders – Arizona Sun and Five Pics Please – in the $60,000 Sun Devil Sprint. The 5-furlong turf event for fillies and mare drew eight plus two also-eligibles. It goes as the final event on an eight-race program.

Arizona Sun, a 4-year-old daughter of Ministers Wildcat owned by Randy Howg, comes here sharp off a second in a dirt sprint stakes here Nov. 6, her first in four months, then a game win in another dirt sprint stakes, the Ocotillo, here Dec. 3. She moves to turf but won her only prior start on grass, which also came at this distance. Lindey Wade rides.

:: Join DRF Bets and play the races with a $250 First Deposit Bonus. Click to learn more.

Five Pics Please, a 3-year-old filly by Cinco Charlie owned by Desert Sun Stables, competed well in Southern California, including running second in the Grade 3 Sweet Life, a turf sprint, at Santa Anita last winter. In her first start here for Diodoro, she led all the way to comfortably win an allowance dirt sprint here Nov. 15. Karlo Lopez rides.

Miss Carousel invades from Southern California for Reddam Racing LLC and Edward Freeman. The 4-year-old daughter of Square Eddie, trained by Freeman, comes off a game win over $25,000 claimers at this trip on Del Mar turf Nov. 21. All four career wins have come at this distance.

Flying to the Line comes off a game wire-to-wire win going longer here Nov. 22; Galileta led all the way to win a longer turf race here Dec. 2 and was claimed; and Outside the Law tries turf for the first time after finishing not far behind Five Pics Please and Arizona Sun in a couple dirt sprints here this meet.