Ez Dreamer tests route form

PHOENIX The Turf Paradise meet titles for 3-year-olds and 3-year-old fillies are up for grabs Saturday in the $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby and the $75,000 Arizona Oaks. The derby (race 8) is run at 1 1/16 miles, and the Oaks (race 7) is at a mile. Each race drew a field of eight.

Ez Dreamer, owned by Triple AAA Ranch and trained by Kory Owens, looks tough in the derby. He began his career with 2 wins and 2 seconds, all in sprints. He was third in the Lost in the Fog Juvenile here Dec. 29, but went through the roof when he got a chance to route. In the one-mile Rattlesnake here Jan. 20, the traditional prep for derby, he made a strong run on the far turn and blasted past rivals to win by 9 3/4 lengths. His Beyer Speed Figure of 95 was far and away his best.

Glenn Corbett, who rode Ez Dreamer for the first time in the Rattlesnake, is back aboard.

Meer Kat, trained by Craig Dollase, began his career in England and showed promise in five starts there, all on turf. He came to California for the Grade 3 Generous on Nov. 23 on the grass at Hollywood Park, and after a sluggish start finished well to be third behind the promising duo of The Leopard and Indian Sun. He hasnt run since and tries dirt for the first time. Martin Pedroza comes in to ride.

Pure and Simple heads the Oaks. She began her career back East, winning her maiden in her Delaware debut. She was given some time off, came here, and romped in an allowance sprint Nov. 6. She was second in the Dec. 7 La Paz, but no factor in the Arizona Juvenile Fillies here Dec. 29. She went into the one-mile Sun Devil her first career route at 23-1.

As with her male counterpart, Ez Dreamer, she looked like a new horse when moved to a route and when teamed with Corbett. She dueled for the lead, blew the race wide open into the lane, and won by four easy lengths. Corbett rides again.

La Mina was eighth in the Grade 3 La Habra, a grass sprint at Santa Anita, on Feb. 8 in her last race. But she has proven her quality, having won her maiden routing on turf at Santa Anita, the Hidden Light on turf there, and the Corte Madera routing on Golden Gates Tapeta track. Chris Landeros rides for new trainer Kent Jensen.

Bitterbutsweet and La Misma were second and third behind Pure and Simple in the Sun Devil, while Briecat invades off a big debut win at Santa Anita, where she posted an 84 Beyer.