Minister of Soul impresses in Phoenix Gold Cup

PHOENIX – Minister of Soul was always good but appears to have blossomed into something really good as he captured Turf Paradise’s marquee event, the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup, on Saturday.

Owned and trained by Esteban Martinez, Minister of Soul ($5.60), a 5-year-old gelded son of Ministers Wild Cat, blasted rivals when easily winning the Hank Mills Sr. here on Jan. 19. That was a harbinger of things to come in this six-furlong event as the gelding, again ridden by Glenn Corbett, went right to the lead from his inside post, was immediately taken on by 4-5 favorite Mr. Jagermeister to his outside, battled gamely with that foe, got the better of him inside the eighth pole, and drew away to win by 3 1/4 lengths. Never Give In, third to Minister of Soul in the Hank Mills Sr., edged past Mr. Jagermeister in the final strides to get second. Mr. Jagermeister, favored while making his first start after three romping wins at Canterbury Downs and then five months off, was a neck back in third in the field reduced to five after the scratch of Bourbon County.

Minister of Soul ran the distance in 1:08.41. The winner’s share of $46,500 gives him earnings of $128,203 from six wins in 11 starts.

Spooky Channel upsets Turf Paradise Handicap

Spooky Channel ($48.20), stepping into stakes ranks for the first time after an allowance win here on Jan. 12, overcame that hurdle, posting the big upset in the $30,000 Turf Paradise Handicap Saturday.

Owned by Terry Hamilton and trained by Clay Brinson, the 4-year-old gelded son of grass champion English Channel lagged back early under Denny Velazquez in the 1 1/16-mile grass event as Gato Guapo, the 8-5 favorite set a pressured pace. Spooky Channel started to advance on the turn and kept to his task doggedly to get up and win by a head. Gato Guapo, the favorite after running third in the Cotton Fitzsimmons here on Jan. 12, set the early pace under pressure and battled gamely all the way to the line to be a sharp second, while Cleanup Hitter, fifth in the Fitzsimmons, rallied for third in the field of nine. Rate for Me, the 3-1 second choice off three straight wins here this meet against lesser, lagged back and made up some ground to finish fifth.

Spooky Channel ran the distance on firm turf in 1:42.61. The winner’s share of $17,856 gives him earnings of $39,006 from 3 wins in 5 starts.

Medaglia Gold wires Sun City Handicap

Medaglia Gold ($3.60) reaffirmed her status as the top grass distaffer based at Turf Paradise as the 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro captured the $30,000 Sun City as the heavy 4-5 favorite. Owned by Larry and Marianne Williams and trained by Shawn Davis, Medaglia Gold went right to the lead in the mile grass contest from her far outside post under Scott Stevens. She was a clear leader while setting a modest pace and led her rivals on a merry chase all the way around, winning by 2 1/4 lengths under a hand ride. Panoe, coming off a fourth in the Glendale Handicap here on Jan. 12, her first local try – Medaglia Gold was second in that spot to Southern California raider Impasse – chased the winner from the start, gamely kept after her but proved no match while holding second. Paddy’s Secret, the defending winner and seventh last out in the Glendale, stalked and stayed on for third in the field of six distaffers.

Medaglia Gold ran the distance in 1:37.12 on firm turf. The winner’s share of $18,414 gives her earnings of $143,831 from 6 wins in 16 starts.