Hidden Character beats White Spar

Hidden Character made it a perfect 3 for 3 to start his career as the 4-year-old gelding captured Turf Paradise's $50,000 Sandra Hall Grand Canyon Handicap Saturday, part of a five-stakes program on Arizona-bred Day.

Owned by E E Dotte Ranch and trained by Wade Rarick, Hidden Character stalked the pace, moved up to contend with heavy 3-10 favorite White Spar going into the far turn, got the better of that rival, and edged away late under Miguel Hernandez to win by 1 1/2 lengths. He covered the six furlongs in 1:09.05 and paid $6.20 as the second choice. White Spar battled gamely and was a clear second in the field of five. Hey Slick was third.

In other action:

*Racetrack Barbie put up a super performance, romping in the $50,000 Joanne Dye. The 3-year-old filly, owned, bred and trained by Jacque Guerra and ridden by Vince Guerra, went right to the lead and just kept going in the 6 1/2-furlong event, winning by 10 1/4 lengths. She paid $3.20 as the 3-5 favorite and ran the distance in 1:17.14. Towson ran second with Keyless third in the field of seven.

*Instantly rallied strongly from off the pace to upset heavy 2-5 favorite Ez Dreamer in the $50,000 Dwight D. Patterson Handicap. Ridden by Miguel Hernandez the 9-year-old sat back and blasted home to win the 1 1/16-mile turf race by 4 3/4 lengths. Ez Dreamer dueled and ran second with Berudenottoo in third in the field of six. Instantly paid $17.60 and ran the distance in 1:43.18.

*Beacon Falls had little trouble validating her 3-5 price as the 5-year-old mare dueled early in the six-furlong Ann Owens Distaff Handicap and drew away to win by 4 1/2 lengths under Adolfo Morales for owner Dennis Weir and trainer Sandi Gann. She covered the distance in 1:09.83 and paid $3.20. Meet Anzi chased the winner in second all the way around and finished 2 lengths ahead of M J's Headache in third in the field of eight.

*French Hit surged to the lead and then just held off hard-charging longshot Who's Ralph to capture the $65,424 Arizona Breeders' Derby. Owned by Triple AAA Ranch and trained by Kory Owens, the 3-year-old gelding sat back under Jake Barton, made a strong rally to take the lead, opening up three lengths in midstretch, and then just held on by a nose over Who's Ralph. Tribal One was third, with favored One Call fourth in the field of eight.

French Hit paid $14.40 and ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.70.