Dominant trial winners clash in ATBA Fall Sales Stakes
PHOENIX – A couple of 2-year-old males who dominated their trials knock heads in the $35,000 ATBA Fall Sales Stakes colts-and-geldings division, while a couple of 2-year-old fillies coming off dominant wins go at it in the $35,000 filly division Saturday at Turf Paradise. Both races, for 2-year-olds consigned to the 2016 ATBA fall sale, are at six furlongs. The male division (race 8) has a field of 12, and the fillies division (race 6) drew 10.
The male division pits Oh Brother Jack against Fortified Effort, both of whom romped in their respective trials for this race here Oct. 16. Oh Brother Jack, a gelded son of Allover owned by Top Hat Thoroughbreds and trained by Dan McFarlane, was coming off a second against maidens on turf Sept. 9 at Canterbury. He came here, moved back to dirt for his third career start, and romped by 7 1/4 lengths over a few of Saturday’s rivals. He earned a 56 Beyer Speed Figure.
Fortified Effort, a gelded son of Ez Effort owned by J. Lloyd Yother, Kevin Eikleberry, William Matthews, and Marvin Fleming and trained by Eikleberry, was already proven, having run second in a stakes at Arapahoe on Aug. 13. He drew off to win his trial by 3 1/4 lengths, posting a 59 Beyer Speed Figure.
Another contender is John Arnold. He’s from the same connections as Fortified Effort, and like that runner is a 2-year-old gelded son of Ez Effort. He ran second to Oh Brother Jack here Oct. 16.
In the fillies division, Myrcella is dangerous as she invades from Southern California. A 2-year-old daughter of Tribal Rule owned by Regan Anderson and Molly Pearson and trained by Pearson, she comes into this off an 11 1/2-length romp over maidens Sept. 15 at Los Alamitos, earning a 51 Beyer.
Foggia, a 2-year-old daughter of Rocky Bar owned by the Sawyer Cattle Company and trained by McFarlane, may go favored in the fillies division. She won her debut under wraps by 2 1/2 lengths here Oct. 16 for a 65 Beyer.
City Spirit, also owned by the Sawyer Cattle Company and trained by McFarlane, comes into this off a turf win Sept. 9 at Canterbury. She’s worked strongly over this track and gets blinkers for the first time.