Howdy Kingkowboy sloshes to Turf Paradise Derby victory

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Howdy Kingkowboy fizzled badly to be seventh in the Lost in the Fog, a sprint, here Dec. 31. However, moving to a route for the first time and racing on a track listed as "wet fast (sealed)" from steady rains throughout the day, proved well to his liking as he posted a mild upset in Saturday’s $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby.

Owned by Turner Shiew and trained by Molly Pearson, Howdy Kingkowboy ($15) broke alertly under Scott Stevens in the 1 1/16-mile main-track event for 3-year-olds to sit third early as Southern California raider Mr Larson set the early pace.

The son of Kodiak Kowboy quickly assumed command, set modest splits, opened up on the far turn and extended his margin from there to win easily by 5 1/4 lengths.

He’s Munnie, coming off a big maiden win here Jan. 30 after running ninth in the Lost in the Fog and was facing winners again here while routing for the first time, stalked the pace and continued on decently to be second, though he was no danger to the winner.

Factored In, fourth in the Lost in the Fog, made it a clean sweep of the trifecta for the local contingent as he sat midpack early, made a threatening wide run into the lane and stayed on for third. Aberdeen Island, the 8-5 favorite coming in from Golden Gate where he easily broke his maiden last time out Dec. 31, stalked in fourth, moved up menacingly to be second turning for home and into the lane but then faltered to end up sixth.

Mr Larson, the 9-5 second choice coming off a romping win over $25,000 claimers routing on Santa Anita dirt Jan. 29, dueled early but faded to seventh in the field of eight.

Howdy Kingkowboy ran the distance in 1:43.95. The winner’s share of $30,070 gives him a bankroll of $68,477 from two wins in six starts.

* McKenzie Honey was no match for Galactic Princess and was fifth to that gal, beaten 10 1/4 lengths, in the Arizona Juvenile Fillies here Dec. 31. However, a longer trip and a sloppy track helped the daughter of Parading turn the tables as she captured the $30,000 Arizona Oaks at a mile for 3-year-old fillies on a main track listed as "wet fast (sealed)."

Owned by Barbara Eakin, Jonathan Nance, and Steve Smith, McKenzie Honey ($13.60) broke well under Jorge Bourdieu to be second, pressuring pacesetter Not That I Recall through solid splits, dueled with that gal into the lane, got the better of her and opened up in the final furlong to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

Not That I Recall set the pace, battled back when hooked by the eventual winner, couldn’t stay with her in the final furlong but stayed on for second well clear of the others, while Sorceress Warning rallied from last to get third. Galactic Princess, the 3-5 favorite after capturing three of her first four including the Arizona Juvenile Filly here Dec. 31, apparently didn’t like the sloppy going as she sat midpack from the start and basically stayed there, finishing fifth in the field of nine 3-year-old fillies.

McKenzie Honey ran the distance in 1:36.80. The winner’s share of $17,856 gives her earnings of $92,726 from four wins in eight starts.