Powell sweeps Arabian stakes with Sand On Fire, Paddys Day
PLEASANTON, Calif. – Trainer Scott Powell won both ends of the Arabian stakes races Sunday at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet at the Alameda County Fair with the favorites Sand On Fire and Paddys Day.
Sand on Fire was eighth early but made a strong four-wide move on the turn and came flying through the lane to win the $39,370 H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship. She won the six-furlong race by three-quarters of a length over One Hot Chick in 1:21.42. My Vaz Is Hot ran third.
Ms Dixie had to be scratched after acting up in the gate. She was 2-5, and with her scratch, $76,000 out of $101,000 in wagers at that point had to be refunded.
Sand On Fire, who had trailed stablemate Ms Dixie in their past two meetings, earned $20,350 with her seventh win in 32 starts, lifting her career earnings to $124,657 for owner Lori Powell.
Paddys Day, winner of six of eight career starts, dueled early with Our Princess before pulling clear in the stretch to win the $55,194 Grade 3 Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Arabian Cup, the second leg of the Emerald Arabian Triple Crown.
He covered six furlongs in 1:18.43 in defeating Sand Victor by four lengths with Our Princess taking third. He was ridden by regular rider Kelsei Purcell.
Paddys Day, owned by Quarter Moon Ranch LLC, earned $29,240 to increase his lifetime total to $84,943.
"He's a perfect horse," said Powell. "We can take him back or go to the front. Nothing bothers him. I have no idea what his upside is, but he can run all day."
Riders in the Ladies World Championship Race were all females, representing 10 different countries. Sandee Martin of the U.S., the most accomplished of the jockeys, was aboard Sand On Fire.
"I knew we had a good match with the rider," said Powell. "We know [Sand On Fire] comes from off the pace, so I told the rider to just keep riding."