Kaabraaj one to beat in Luke Kruytbosch

PHOENIX – Kaabraaj ran away and hid in the Bienvenidos at Turf Paradise opening day Oct. 15 to stamp himself the top local sprinter. He looks to reinforce that notion in Saturday’s $30,000 Luke Kruytbosch. The six-furlong event (race 7) drew a field of seven 3-year-olds and up.

Also on the Saturday card is the six-furlong City of Phoenix (race 3). The $30,000 event for fillies and mares has a field of seven, headed by invader Constellation and top local sprinting filly B C Z Middleton.

Kaabraaj, owned by Warlock Stables and Horseplayers Racing Club #240 and trained by Jeff Metz, is the one to beat in the Kruytbosch, named for the former track announcer who died in 2008.

Kaabraaj found Southern California rivals too tough in three races this summer, including a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar, won by Lord Nelson. After dueling for the lead and fading to ninth in the Grade 3 Eddie D on turf at Santa Anita, he came here for the Bienvenidos. He had worked strongly for that race, and it showed as he shot out to a clear lead and won by 2 1/4 lengths.

Eswan Flores, aboard for his last two races, rides Kaabraaj again Saturday.

Storm Power, trained by Robertino Diodoro, chased Kaabraaj from the start in the Bienvenidos but had to settle for third as the 3-5 favorite. He goes for revenge with Scott Stevens aboard.

City of Phoenix Stakes

Constellation, a 3-year-old filly by Bellamy Road who cost $800,000 at auction last year, makes her first start since March in the City of Phoenix. Owned by LNJ Foxwoods, she won Aqueduct’s Furlough Stakes by 8 1/4 lengths last November, then won the Ruthless by 10 on Aqueduct’s inner track in January. She finished fourth as the 1-9 favorite in the Cicada at Aqueduct in her last start.

Constellation makes her first start for Jerry Hollendorfer after having been trained by Steve Asmussen.

B C Z Middleton, trained by Jeff Metz, comes off a win in the Princess of Palms at this six-furlong distance here Oct. 22.