Primo Touch back on turf in Tempe Handicap

PHOENIX – Primo Touch has stamped himself the top 3-year-old male at Turf Paradise by virtue of big wins this meet, easily taking the Startac on turf and then the Turf Paradise Derby on dirt. The son of Midas Touch moves back to likely his best footing – turf – and looms a heavy favorite as the 125-pound highweight in Saturday’s $30,000 Tempe Handicap. The one-mile grass event, which goes as race 3, drew a field of seven 3-year-olds.

Also on the Saturday card, a competitive field of eight 3-year-old fillies will contest the $30,000 Scottsdale Handicap. That event (race 5), also at a mile on the turf, has all entrants tabbed between 120 and 118 pounds, showing how contentious it is.

Primo Touch, owned by Dino Bates and trained by Dan McFarlane, has blossomed since the fall, winning 4 of his last 5, all at Turf Paradise. He won all three turf starts, including the Startac by 12 1/4 lengths, and enters this spot off an easy front-running win in the Turf Paradise Derby.

One who could challenge the heavy favorite is Playoff Bound. Owned by Ted Graling and Randy Howg and trained by Robertino Diodoro, Playoff Bound was sixth, beaten 13 lengths by Primo Touch in the Turf Paradise Derby. That race marked his first route, first try against winners, and came on dirt. In his only try on turf, the son of Grade 1 grass winner Artie Schiller blasted maidens by 6 3/4 lengths, so this return to turf may suit. He’s worked strongly for this as well.

Turf experience may prove key in Scottsdale

Film Actress finished a well-beaten fourth in the Arizona Oaks on dirt here on Feb. 17, but prior to that the daughter of Eskendereya was nine lengths best over maidens on turf. She should appreciate the return to that surface in the Scottsdale.

Among the main opponents for Film Actress is City Spirit. She was fifth in the Oaks, broke her maiden on turf at Canterbury last summer, and was third here in the Jeff and Jack Coady Sr. Stakes on turf Jan. 21.

The invading My Masterpiece won twice on turf last fall in Florida and will get a class drop here after stalking the pace before fading to 10th in a turf stakes on Santa Anita’s hillside grass course last month. Acharnement easily beat maidens Feb. 19 over this course and distance. Not only was that her first start here after racing in Southern California, it was her first try on turf, her first route, and first action of any kind in seven months.