PHOENIX – Minister of Soul has made a habit of doing well in Turf Paradise’s $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup. The 8-year-old gelded son of Ministers Wild Cat won the event in 2019, ran second in 2020, and third last year. The veteran takes another swing at the meet’s marquee event Friday as he heads a field of 10 in the six-furlong fixture. The Gold Cup goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that features three other stakes – the $100,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap at a mile on turf (race 8), $75,000 Arizona Oaks at a mile (race 5), and $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby at 1 1/16 miles (race 6). Owned and trained by Esteban Martinez, Minister of Soul may have years on him and a lot of furlongs behind him (37 starts) but comes here sharp. After running third in a stakes at Sunland on New Year’s Day, he returned here and easily won a strong allowance sprint Jan. 19, posting a 91 Beyer Speed Figure. That’s his best figure in some time, though he may need a move forward to beat a couple scary Southern California raiders. :: For the first time ever, our premium past performances are free! Get free Formulator now! Arham, a 5-year-old son of Union Rags, competed well in New York last spring/summer before moving to Southern California where he won a mile allowance race at Del Mar for owners Holly and David Wilson and new trainer Vladimir Cerin, then looked good winning a strong allowance sprint Dec. 31 at Santa Anita. Five 91 Beyers in eight career starts show consistency at a high level. Law Abidin Citizen, an 8-year-old gelded son of Twirling Candy owned by Dan Agnew, Gary Schneider, and John Xitco and trained by Mark Glatt, has been freshened since a game allowance win Dec. 11 at Los Alamitos. There was a time he knocked heads with some of the best sprinters in Southern California and held his own. He may not be that horse any longer but still has game. Another local hope is Annie’s Boy, a 5-year-old gelded son of Lotsa Mischief. Annie’s Boy, owned by Michael Feigenbaum and trained by Rafael Barraza, ran second to Minister of Soul in that Jan. 19 allowance sprint here and won a restricted stakes here Feb. 4. ◗ Majestic Eagle looks to parlay a smart win in the Walter R. Cluer on turf here Jan. 14 to a victory over eight rivals in the Cotton Fitzsimmons. Majestic Eagle, a 7-year-old gelded son of Medaglia d’Oro owned by Rave Green Racing and trained by Neil Drysdale, competed with some of the best turf milers in California the past few seasons. After a good fourth in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit on Nov. 27 at Del Mar, he shipped here for the Cluer, stalked the pace, took over into the lane, and drew clear. Camino Del Paraiso, another California runner, is dangerous. He invades off a pair of seconds in the Grade 3 Berkeley on Nov. 27 at Golden Gate and in a restricted turf stakes on Jan. 15 at Santa Anita for owner Paradise Road Ranch LLC and trainer O.J. Juaregui. Mucho Del Oro ships in from Southern California having won three of his last four starts, all for owner Peerenboom Racing Stables LLC and trainer Cerin, while My Indy may be the best local hope for C & R Racing and trainer David Van Winkle as he comes here in super form with five wins and two seconds in his last seven starts, all on this course, including the Turf Paradise Turf on Feb. 11. ◗ Unsolved Mystery, a romping winner over maidens Feb. 6 at Santa Anita, may be the one to beat in Arizona Oaks. Among her seven rivals are Chesterette, a smart maiden winner at Sam Houston; Opal Creek, stakes-placed on turf here Feb. 18; and Madiha, an impressive winner in a turf route Feb. 4 at Santa Anita and multiple stakes-placed on dirt in Southern California in 2021. :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures ◗ Southern California raiders Finneus and Mashhad Flat take on five others in the Turf Paradise Derby. Finneus was second in the Grade 2 Best Pal and Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and won a restricted sprint stakes at Del Mar as a juvenile. He comes off a solid third in a restricted route stakes Jan. 5 at Santa Anita. Mashhad Flats invades off a romping six-length win over $32,000 claimers routing Feb. 11 at Santa Anita. The prime local hopes are Mongolian Memory, Chrome King, and Juan Bravo, the top three finishers in the Startac on grass here Feb. 18. Mongolian Memory dueled and gamely won by a nose, but came out turning for home and was disqualified and placed seventh. He’s proven on dirt. Chrome King, who was awarded the win, hasn’t been as effective on dirt, though he’s bred to handle it and has worked strongly since on the main track. Juan Bravo ran on well for third (awarded second with the disqualification of Mongolian Memory).