Invader Time and Chance outruns locals in City of Phoenix

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Time and Chance invaded from Southern California and toppled the top local female sprinters at Turf Paradise on Friday, winning the $30,000 City of Phoenix.

Time and Chance ($11.20), a 5-year-old daughter of Awesome of Course owned by Fitch Racing Stable LLC and Lana Smith, was claimed for $25,000 by trainer Mark Glatt at Los Alamitos on July 7, then ran second for $25,000 at Del Mar on Aug. 1 and was third for $32,000 there Sept. 1.

Switched to trainer Robertino Diodoro for this invasion, the mare showed speed from her rail slot as she dogged pacesetter and 8-5 favorite Fight to Glory under Francisco Arrieta in the 6-furlong main-track event. She seemed in a bit of trouble when Fight to Glory opened up some on her on the far turn. But Time and Chance came off the inside, got going again into the lane and ran down Fight to Glory to win by a half-length.

Fight to Glory, the defending champ and also sent out by Diodoro, held second, while Paddy’s Secret, coming off a smashing win in the Princess of Palms here Oct. 20, rallied from last to finish third.

B C Z Middleton, second to Fight to Glory in this last year and second to Paddy’s Secret in the Princess of Palms, stalked the pace but was one-paced, ending up fourth in the field of seven after the scratch of outsider Brechin’s Command.

Time and Chance ran the distance in 1:09.17. The winner’s share of $18,228 gives her earnings of $100,633 from five wins in 14 starts.