Hasta La Vista Stakes closes out Turf Paradise meet

PHOENIX – The Hasta La Vista Stakes has traditionally brought down the curtain on Turf Paradise meets over the years. On Saturday, the $60,000 turf marathon fills that role again, going as the final race on the 11-race closing-day card. The question is, will this running merely be a cymbal crash on another meet or on the Phoenix track for good?

The track mustered a meet this year, after all indications were that it had died on the vine. And while the meet commenced nicely, there’s no guarantee there will be racing again at Turf Paradise after Saturday.

With that cloud hanging over the Phoenix track and Arizona racing community, the Hasta La Vista at 1 7/8 miles on the turf drew a field of eight. Also on the card is the $60,000 Turf Paradise Open Spring Futurity at five furlongs on the main track for 2-year-olds.

Kennebec and Midnight Jostar lead the local contingent for the Hasta La Vista. Kennebec has flourished since coming here from Northern California, easily winning his two local starts, including taking the Wildcat, the traditional prep for this race on April 11 for trainer Jose Silva Jr. That win came at 1 3/8 miles, with Midnight Jostar finishing second for trainer Vladimir Cerin. Both will try this longer trip for the first time.

They also must worry about Southern California raider Big Buzz, who finished second in this race in 2021. The 9-year-old trained by Steve Knapp enters off a nice win over $20,000 claimers on the Santa Anita dirt.

◗ Squeeze the Day looms a heavy favorite in the Spring Futurity, which drew 12 juveniles. He easily captured his qualifier on April 11 by more than five lengths as the 1-2 favorite. That also was his debut for trainer Kevin Eikleberry, so he’s certainly eligible to improve. Just Call Me Lucky and Narizon, first and second, respectively, in their April 11 qualifier, look to spring an upset.

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