Komax, Bully Bones look good in pair of stakes sprints

has been a tough customer on the Southwest circuit for some time now. A 7-year-old, he looks to add to his impressive resume at Turf Paradise on Saturday, when he carries high weight of 122 pounds against six rivals in the $40,000 Cactus Wren Handicap. The 6 1/2-furlong event is for Arizona-breds, 3 years old and up.

Saturday's program also features the $40,000 Arizona Juvenile Fillies Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong event for 2-year-old Arizona-bred fillies. The race has lured a field of 10, headed by Southern California raiders Bully Bones and Toppisme and unbeaten filly Holy Fashion, the best local horse. The Cactus Wren goes as race 3 on the nine-race program; the Arizona Juvenile Fillies goes as race 8.

Trained by Kevin Eikleberry, Komax has won 10 of 33 for over $242,000 and has a 4-3-0 mark in eight local starts. He comes off three straight solid races at Zia Park in New Mexico, including an optional claiming victory and a third in the Zia Park Express last time out Dec. 4. Wilson Dieguez rides.

Komax's main challenge may come from Moores Bridge. A 4-year-old gelding trained by Molly Pearson, Moores Bridge returned here after a summer in Southern California and has had three straight strong races this meet. He won an optional claimer Oct. 9, then won the Zip Pocket here Oct. 30. Most recently, in the Last Don B on Nov. 22, he made a strong midrace move but flattened out to finish third, almost seven lengths behind top local sprinter Cocoa Latte. Glenn Corbett has the ride at 119 pounds.

figures to go favored in the Arizona Juvenile Fillies based on her strong Southern California form. Owned and trained by John Johnson, Bully Bones won her first two starts, including the Grade 3 Sorrento at Del Mar. That encouraged her connections to next try the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 27. Sent off at just 3-1, Bully Bones stalked the pace in midpack but faltered in the lane, finishing 15 lengths behind winner Wild Fit. Bully Bones faces no opposition quite like that Saturday, but must overcome a four-month layoff. Tony Farina comes in from Southern California for the ride.

Toppisme is a maiden, but she showed ample promise in Southern California, finishing third in her debut at Del Mar, then second by a head to the Bob Baffert runner Babe Hall, and second to Pure Incentive at Hollywood on Dec. 4. Michael Baze rides for trainer Gary Mandella.

Holy Fashion has been dazzling here in her only two starts. She romped over maidens here Nov. 8 then came right back to duel early and draw away in the La Paz. Scott Stevens rides for trainer Bart Hone.