One-two in trials, fillies meet again

PHOENIX - Two full fields of 12 aspiring 2-year-olds will be spotlighted at Turf Paradise Saturday in two divisions of the Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Fall Sales Stakes, a $77,745 filly division and a $74,436 male edition. The two events are run at six furlongs.

Benchmark's Bounty looms the favorite in the filly division (race 7) as she comes into this race unbeaten in two starts. She won her debut at Yavapai Downs by 12 1/2 lengths Sept. 2 and came back here Oct. 5 to win her trial for this race by three-quarters of a length over Unbidable and many other Saturday rivals. Unbidable ended up 16 1/2 lengths clear of third. Jocelyne Kenny, who was up for those two starts, has the call on Benchmark's Bounty for trainer Ken Brown.

Unbidable may be winless in her only two starts, but still looms Benchmark's Bounty's main threat. She rallied for second in her debut at Del Mar Aug. 31 and then shipped here and stayed on gamely to push Benchmark's Bounty to the wire in that Oct. 5 trial. Seth Martinez has the call again on Unbidable, who is trained by Eric Kruljac.

Rule by Force and Stormy Highland head the male division (race 8). Rule by Force has won 3 of his last 4, including the Yavapai Downs Futurity Sept. 3, when he beat Stormy Highland by a head. Trained by Lyman Rollins, Rule by Force came back here Oct. 5 to easily win his trial for this race by 6 1/2 lengths. Vince Guerra rides.

Stormy Highland seeks revenge on Rule by Force. Trained by Larry Wells, he went wire to wire to win his Oct. 5 trial. Alberto Higuera has the ride again.