'Justice' steps up to stakes company

Wings of Justice looks to continue her ascent as she tries the stakes ranks in Monday's $30,000 Cactus Flower Handicap at Turf Paradise. The six-furlong event, for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, lured a field of six.

Wings of Justice, owned by Lyle and Sue Malick and trained by Mike Chambers, has blossomed here in recent months, particularly since being moved back to dirt. She ran well in a pair of turf races last fall and winter, but faced allowance foes sprinting on dirt here Feb. 10 and romped by 7 1/4 lengths.

She stepped up to the next allowance level for another dirt sprint March 3 and romped again, this time by 2 1/2 lengths. She won both races well in hand with seemingly plenty left.

Seth Martinez rides at 116 pounds.

She does have something to prove, however, as she faces a couple of proven stakes horses. Famous Gal, owned by John Pendergast and trained by Joe Johnson, won two sprint stakes here in 2007, the Cactus Cup and Ahwatukee Express. Her form hasn't been quite as sharp this season, although she won an optional claimer here Feb. 26. She then dueled and finished seventh in the Princess of Palms here March 15.

Juan Rivera rides the 119-pound highweight.

Glorificamus made a wonderful first impression last fall when she invaded from Ireland for owner Ken Porter and trainer Dan McFarlane and rallied to win the Chandler Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf here. She's also shown dirt sprint form, romping in an allowance race here Feb. 4. She finished third as the 9-5 favorite in Famous Gal's Feb. 26 optional claiming win, and then dueled early with Famous Gal in the March 15 Princess of Palms, tiring to finish sixth, just in front of her rival.

Wilson Dieguez rides at 118 pounds.