Favored Hezamazing takes Turf Paradise opening-day feature

PHOENIX - The extreme outside post wasn’t a problem for heavy favorite Hezamazing as he had no trouble posting an easy win in Friday’s $25,000 Bienvenidos Stakes, the opening-day feature for the Turf Paradise meet.

Sent off the 7-10 favorite in the mile main-track event, Hezamazing, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Carlyle Rollins and trained by Rich Houghton, showed speed to dog pacesetter Just Jebicah from the start, moved up to challenge for the lead with Sax, gamely ran that rival into defeat, and pulled away to win by three lengths under jockey Wilson Dieguez.

Hezamazing ran the distance in 1:37.07 and paid $3.40. The winner’s share of $15,000 pushes his career bankroll to $135,827 from seven wins in 23 starts.

Just Jebicah set the pace under pressure from the winner and rerallied to get second after being passed on the far turn. Sax, who sat back early and made a strong run on the turn and into the lane to challenge the winner, faltered to finish third.