R Big Stuff gets chance in Rattlesnake

Hes had to wait a little longer than expected, but R Big Stuff will get a chance to redeem himself on Friday. The top Arizona-bred 3-year-old, R Big Stuff was hoping to repair his tarnished reputation in the $40,000 Rattlesnake at Turf Paradise last Sunday, but when weather forced the cancellation of live racing that day, R Big Stuff had to stay in the barn.

But the Rattlesnake has been rescheduled, and Fridays mile event for 3-year-olds has lured a field of 10. Post positions were redrawn but the field remains intact from Sundays original cast.

R Big Stuff, owned by Gary Stevenson and trained by Molly Pearson, has dominated the Arizona-bred ranks since coming here in the fall from Southern California, including a smashing 6 3/4-length victory in the Arizona Breeders Futurity Dec. 9. That sent him into the Dec. 31 Lost in the Fog Juvenile against open company as the 3-5 favorite, but after dueling for the early lead under regular rider Miguel Hernandez, he faltered to fifth in the field of 10. Hernandez keeps the call on Friday.

Ourtickethome, who invaded from Montana with a superb record and promptly won the Old Line Policy here Dec. 12, looms a threat with his speed. He got shuffled back and failed to threaten in the Lost in the Fog but now gets the services of leading rider Glenn Corbett.

* Slew o Platinum, who won the $45,000 Sun Devil on Saturday, will run next in the $75,000 Arizona Oaks here Feb. 17, trainer Nick Hines said.