Hess-Blanc is team to beat in Fitzsimmons, Glendale
PHOENIX – Trainer Bob Hess Jr. and rider Brice Blanc come from Southern California loaded for bear on Saturday at Turf Paradise. They team up with Perfectly Majestic in the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap and have With a Twist in the $35,000 Glendale Handicap.
Perfectly Majestic might go favored in the Fitzsimmons. The one-mile turf event drew a strong field of nine 4-year-olds and up. With a Twist might be the one to beat among the 10 fillies and mares in the Glendale, a 1 1/16-mile turf race.
Saturday also marks the 60th birthday of Turf Paradise.
Perfectly Majestic comes here sharp and has been facing better. He was second in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, beaten by multiple Grade 2 winner Om. His main rivals include fellow Southern California raider Somethings Unusual and top locals Az Ridge and Red Zeus.
Glendale: With a Twist hot
With a Twist has won 3 of her last 4 heading into the Glendale. She easily won for $32,000 at Del Mar on Nov. 7 and was claimed by Hess. She came right back to win for $45,000 there Nov. 29 in her last start.
She must deal with some good locals, including Hip Ninety Three and Enlightened, first and second in the Queen of the Green here Nov. 28; Nora’s Song, who moves up in class off two easy wins here last fall; My Blue Sky, the winner of the Chandler Handicap here Nov. 7; and Four Times Lucky, a winner of three straight at this meet and 6 for 9 on this course.
KEY CONTENDERS
COTTON FITZSIMMONS MILE (race 7)
Perfectly Majestic (Last 3 Beyers: 96-88-88)
◗ Has been knocking on the door, with a second and two thirds in his last three starts after a late-summer hiatus.
◗ Does his best work in the lane but has some speed.
Somethings Unusual (Last 3 Beyers: 76-90-86)
◗ Two of his three wins have come at a mile, including a victory over a strong optional-claiming field at Santa Anita on Nov. 28.
◗ Faded to 12th in the Grade 3 Daytona on the 6 1/2-furlong hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.
Az Ridge (Last 3 Beyers: 78-90-73)
◗ Finished third in this race last year, then rattled off four straight stakes wins, landing him Horse of the Meet honors.
◗ Five of his seven grass wins have come on this course.
GLENDALE HANDICAP (race 5)
With a Twist (Last 3 Beyers: 80-83-79)
◗ Looks as good as ever at age 8. After going just 1 for 8 in 2014, she went 4 for 8 last year.
◗ Packs a punch in the lane but has tactical speed.
My Blue Sky (Last 3 Beyers: 66-74-53)
◗ Was fifth in the Queen of the Green, well behind Saturday rivals Hip Ninety Three and Enlightened, but she was a bit fractious in the gate, and that might have taken some of the run out of her.
◗ Stalked the pace and finished strongly to easily win the Chandler on this course Nov. 7.