Omar, Maker Or Breaker sharp for sprint stakes

PHOENIX – Some of the best sprinters on the grounds take center stage Saturday at Turf Paradise for the $35,000 Caballos del Sol, open to 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs, and the $35,000 City of Phoenix, for fillies and mares going six furlongs. The Caballos del Sol, which goes as race 3, drew a field of six. The City of Phoenix (race 5) lured seven.

Favoritism in the Caballos del Sol may go to Omar. Owned by Randy Exelby, Rick Running Rabbit, and TG Racing LLC and trained by Robertino Diodoro, Omar won an allowance race here April 9. After fading to sixth on turf here May 2, he won a $16,000 claiming sprint on turf at Golden Gate Fields on June 13 but was then no factor in three Southern California starts.

Diodoro brought him here for a tough optional claimer Oct. 27, and the 5-year-old son of Bertrando dueled for the early lead and romped by 5 3/4 lengths, earning a 93 Beyer Speed Figure. Scott Stevens rides.

Bull Dozer makes his second Turf Paradise start in the Caballos del Sol. He ran fourth for $62,500 at Santa Anita on Sept. 26 and was claimed by Diodoro. Bull Dozer then came here and finished second in the Bienvenidos as the 7-5 favorite Oct. 18. Jorge Carreno rides.

Absolutely Cool, among the top sprinters on the grounds the past few seasons, was third in the Bienvenidos, 3 3/4 lengths behind Bull Dozer. Trained by Valorie Lund, he’s done some big things here, including winning the Phoenix Gold Cup on Feb. 15. He was third in this race last year. Ry Bowen rides.

Maker Or Breaker eyes repeat

Maker Or Breaker, owned by Hal and Patti Earnhardt and trained by Dan McFarlane, looms a heavy favorite in the City of Phoenix.

A 5-year-old daughter of Empire Maker, Maker Or Breaker was competitive in Southern California for Bob Baffert. She came here for McFarlane for the Oct. 25 Princess of Palms and powered home to win easily by 2 1/2 lengths under Israel Hernandez. Hernandez keeps the call.

Rock and Glory was second in the Princess of Palms and takes another shot at Maker Or Breaker, while Black Witch comes off a nice optional-claiming win here Oct. 29. That was her first start here and her first since Dec. 29, so she may well improve Saturday.

CABALLOS DEL SOL (RACE 3)

KEY CONTENDERS

Omar (Last 3 Beyers: 93-34-49)

◗ He was claimed for $20,000 by his current connections at Del Mar four months ago.

◗ He posted a bullet four-furlong work in 45.80 seconds here Nov. 9.

Bull Dozer (Last 3 Beyers: 82-86-82)

◗ He ran fifth in the Pirate’s Bounty at Del Mar on Sept. 3.

◗ He was slow into stride at Santa Anita on Sept. 26 but pressed the pace when second behind impressive winner Storm Power in the Bienvenidos.

◗ He finished well ahead of Saturday rival Absolutely Cool in the Bienvenidos.

Absolutely Cool (Last 3 Beyers: 73-93-70)

◗ The Bienvenidos was his first start in five months, and he’s worked in solid fashion since.

CITY OF PHOENIX (RACE 5)

KEY CONTENDERS

Maker Or Breaker (Last 3 Beyers: 91-72-76)

◗ While she won the Princess of Palms from well off the pace, she’s won from a more prominent early position.

◗ She put in a five-furlong work in 1:01.20 here Nov. 8.

Black Witch (Last 3 Beyers: 72-68-68)

◗ She was held in high-enough regard in the spring of 2013 to earn a start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks, running sixth to champion Beholder.

Rock and Glory (Last 3 Beyers: 85-76-91)

◗ She pressed the pace in the Princess of Palms here Oct. 25, her first start since Jan. 12.

◗ She has shown big speed routing, but in sprints, she figures in line for a stalking trip.

◗ She gets blinkers.