El Mirage makes amends for flop in the slop

El Mirage, who was a non-threatening third as the 1-5 favorite in a stakes run in the slop locally on Dec. 1, bounced back to form by capturing the $50,000 Lost in the Fog Juvenile at Turf Paradise on Saturday.

Owned by Dennis Weir and trained by Kevin Lewis, El Mirage didn't handle the sloppy track in the Arizona Breeders' Futurity a month ago. He was faced with no such hurdles here, as on fast going he was sent off the 8-5 favorite. He jumped right out to contest the pace under Vince Guerra, opened up into the lane and had just enough to hold off the surging White Spar to win by a neck. White Spar finished 5 1/2 lengths clear of the third horse, Ez Dreamer, in the field of eight 2-year-olds.

El Mirage ($5.20) covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.24. The winner's share of $30,000 pushed his career earnings to $49,079 from 3 wins in 4 starts.

* High Resolve ($2.60), unbeaten and untested in three career starts, winning by 9, 7, and 5 1/4 lengths, had no trouble making it 4 for 4 as she dominated the $45,000 Arizona Juvenile Fillies.

Owned by Harry Aleo and trained by Greg Gilchrist, High Resolve jumped right out to set the pace in the 6 1/2-furlong event for 2-year-old fillies, took some early pressure from Pure and Simple, but rebuffed that rival and maintained a clear lead to the wire, winning by two lengths. Nook and Granny was second with Cave Springs third in the field of nine.

High Resolve, ridden by Russell Baze, ran the distance in 1:15.61. The winner's share of $27,000 pushed her career bankroll to $153,000.