Meet opens with new pick six bet and new racing secretary

PHOENIX – Turf Paradise kicks off its 63rd season Saturday with a couple significant changes. First, racing secretary duties for the 131-day meet, which runs through May 5, are in the hands of Robbie Junk, though he’s no stranger to the Phoenix scene. Junk served as racing secretary here in 2000 and was then assistant racing secretary until 2011. He then undertook racing secretary duties at Sunland Park and Canterbury Downs.

The other notable change is the addition of a jackpot-style pick six wager called the Grand Canyon Pick 6. The 20-cent wager is identical to the traditional pick six but the entire pool will be paid out only when there is a single winning ticket. Consolation payoffs will be made if more than one person hits all six or if there are no perfect tickets. The wager will be seeded with a $25,000 pool for opening day.

Racing will be held primarily on a five-day basis, Saturday through Wednesday, with gates opening at 11 a.m. and first post at 12:55 p.m. Grandstand admission is $3, clubhouse and turf club $5, and general parking is free.

The $2 million stakes program is led by the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup. The meet’s marquee event, the Gold Cup is at six furlongs and slated for Feb. 9. Other highlights include the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Jan. 12 and $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby Feb. 16.

General manager Vince Francia said the track expects to host 1,800 horses in its 68-stable backstretch.

Racing kicks off with the traditional opening-day event, the $30,000 Bienvenidos. The 6 1/2-furlong event for 3-year-olds and upward drew a field of nine, headed by recent Canterbury Downs stakes winners Creative Art and Bourbon Cowboy, and Kaabraaj, who’s been a fixture in the sprint stakes ranks here the past couple seasons.

BIENVENIDOS (Race 9)

KEY CONTENDERS

Creative Art, by Shore Breeze

(Last 3 Beyers: 90-69-86)

◗ Comes here having won five of his last six, all at Canterbury Downs, with the lone loss coming in a turf stakes.

◗ Has considerable speed but isn’t a need-the-lead type, as he’s shown he can press and pass horses.

Bourbon Cowboy, by Cowboy Cal

(Last 3 Beyers: 86-88-84)

◗ Comes here sharp off two straight wins, including a stakes at Canterbury Downs last time out Sept. 14.

◗ He is sent out by Robertino Diodoro, who’s been the leading trainer here the last three seasons.

Kaabraaj, by Abraaj

(Last 3 Beyers: 51-83-82)

◗ Has been knocking heads with the best sprinters here the past few seasons, finishing fourth in this race last year before winning the Luke Kruytbosch in November.

◗ He was fifth in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs Aug. 12 and 10th in a sprint stakes there Sept. 23.

◗ He is 3 for 6. at Turf Paradise.