Lonesome Creek topples heavy favorite again

When Lonesome Creek won the ATBA Sales Stakes at Turf Paradise on last month at 12-1, beating 1-5 favorite Got an Itch back into second, it was surely viewed as a surprise. That can't really be the reaction now as Lonesome Creek made it two straight over her more ballyhooed rival when she captured the $63,836 Arizona Breeders Futurity filly division at Turf Paradise on Saturday.

Twenty minutes later, Pinal validated his 12 3/4-length win in the trial for this, easily taking the $67,710 colt-and-gelding division.

Owned by Gene Fleming and trained by F.C. Frazier, Lonesome Creek parlayed her Oct. 17 ATBA Sales Stakes victory into her second consecutive stakes tally. She dueled early, put away Got an Itch, the 4-5 favorite, and drew away in the lane to win by four lengths. Got an Itch raced extremely wide but finished second after dueling with the winner, a half-length in front of Pocketful in the field of 10 2-year-old fillies. Lonesome Creek paid $7.20 and covered the six furlongs in 1:11.24 with Enrique Garcia aboard.

Pinal ($7.20) seized the lead and widened through the stretch to finish 3 1/2 lengths clear of Napili Point with Stockton Pass another 2 1/4 lengths back in the field of 12. Owned by Dennis Weir, who was winning his third Arizona Breeders' Futurity, and trained by Kevin Lewis, Pinal covered the six furlongs in 1:11.22 under Daniel Vergara.