Mr. Jagermeister gets it done in Phoenix Gold Cup

PHOENIX – Mr. Jagermeister got into a duel through sizzling splits in last year’s $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise, paying the price and tiring to third. The 5-year-old son of Atta Boy Roy made no such tactical miscue this time, capturing the meet’s marquee event Saturday.

Owned by Valorie Lund, Kristin Boice and Leslie Cummings and trained by Lund, Mr. Jagermeister ($5.60) showed tractability this year in the six-furlong event. Under Leandro Goncalves he stalked in fourth early as Smart Prospect and defending winner Minister of Soul dueled through sizzling splits, came with his run on the turn, battled Minister of Soul into the lane before getting the better of that rival, pushing out to a three-quarter-length win. Minister of Soul ran a huge race in defeat, dueling through the sizzling splits (21.64 and 43.95 seconds) and holding second, a half-length ahead of 3-2 favorite Chief Cicatriz, in the field of eight. Mr. Jagermeister last ran fourth in the Cotton Fitzsimmons at a mile on grass here Jan. 11 but showed this footing and shorter trip more his forte.

Mr. Jagermeister ran the distance in 1:08.02. The winner’s share of $45,105 gives him earnings of $547,460 from 11 wins in 21 starts.

► Chance to Shine ($16.60) proved an easy winner of the $30,000 Sun City Handicap. The 4-year-old daughter of Morning Line, owned by Peggy Thompson and trained by Dan McFarlane, bided her time early in the mile grass event for distaffers, made headway to the far turn and powered home in the lane under Kassie Guglielmino to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Deputy Dora rallied for second, a nose ahead of Unique Factor. True to Herself, the 7-10 favorite, finished fourth in the field of seven. The winner’s time was 1:35.

► Clear the Mine ($23.40) finished off the board in his two prior turf starts but that didn’t matter this time to the son of Horse of the Year Mineshaft as he rallied to post the upset in the $30,000 Turf Paradise Handicap. Owned by Tyree Wolesensky and Jose Silva Jr. and trained by Silva Jr., the 7-year-old gelding sat last early in the 1 1/16-mile turf race under Enrique Garcia, remained there to the far turn as Gato Guapo set a strong pace, pitched wide on the turn, wider still into the lane and powered home to get up for the three-quarter-length win. Primo Touch ran second while Gato Guapo stayed on for third in the field of eight. The winner’s time was 1:40.52.