Mambo Man to be heavy favorite in Hasta La Vista

The $35,000 Hasta La Vista Handicap on Sunday highlights the final day of the Turf Paradise meet – a day the connections of Mambo Man must rue. Mambo Man showed a liking for the turf course at the Phoenix track in his last start, an easy score in the Wildcat Handicap on April 5, and he will be a heavy favorite to win the Hasta La Vista.

The Hasta La Vista, the traditional closing-day feature, drew a field of 10 to go 1 7/8 miles on turf. Also Sunday, 12 2-year-olds who were consigned to the 2013 ATBA fall sale go five furlongs in the $35,000 ATBA Spring Sales Stakes.

A 5-year-old son of Purge, Mambo Man was a romping winner at Santa Anita on March 21 and was claimed for $40,000 that day by trainer Robertino Diodoro for owners Charles Garvey, Ted Graling, and TG Racing LLC. In his Turf Paradise debut, he stalked the pace under Geovanni Franco in the Wildcat, took over turning for home, and won by 7 1/2 lengths.

While the distance of the Hasta La Vista is uncharted waters for Mambo Man, the way he powered home to win the 1 3/8-mile Wildcat hints that he’ll handle the added ground. Franco again has the call on Mambo Man, who as the 125-pound highweight gives five to 17 pounds to his rivals. It probably won’t matter.

Major Art, tabbed second on the weights at 120 pounds, looms a threat. Owned by Class Racing Stable and trained by Bart Hone, the 6-year-old Major Art has not raced since a smart win on dirt at Sunland Park on March 11. But he’s no stranger to turf, as two of his three wins have come on grass. Scott Stevens rides.

Other contenders include Michael the Man, third to Mambo Man in the Wildcat Handicap; Porfido, a 12-year-old who has won 15 races and was fourth in the Wildcat; Tamarack Smarty, who once held his own against toughies in Southern California and enters off a win over $6,250 claimers going a mile on turf here March 30; and Bobby Handy, who steps up after a series of strong efforts.

McFarlane has three for ATBA

Aggressive Beauty, Tactical Rocket, and Brookerson return as the fastest qualifiers in the ATBA Spring Sales Stakes. All three are trained by Dan McFarlane.

Aggressive Beauty and Tactical Rocket finished one-two in the faster qualifier here April 16. Aggressive Beauty, a daughter of champion sprinter Midnight Lute, won that race, her first start, by a length. Tactical Rocket, who was making her debut, dueled for the early lead with her stablemate before finishing second.

Brookerson, a son of Henny Hughes, dueled for the early lead before drawing clear to easily win his debut here April 16.

◗ Racing returns for a 59th meeting at Turf Paradise in early October.