Scottsdale winner tries elders

PHOENIX - Bitterbutsweet, upset winner of the Scottsdale Handicap on the Turf Paradise grass March 31, will be out to prove that win was no fluke when she takes on older rivals in Saturday's $30,000 Desert Sky Handicap at Turf Paradise.

The one-mile turf test for fillies and mares drew a field of eight.

Bitterbutsweet, owned by M&B Partners LLC and trained by Dan Morgan, won her maiden on the grass here last November. She tried a couple dirt stakes during the winter and was far from embarrassed, even finishing second in the Sun Devil. But Bitterbutsweet appears to prefer the turf.

She was third in an allowance race when returned to turf here March 17, and two weeks later rallied smartly to win the Scottsdale. That victory grew in stature when the filly who ran third, La Misma, came back to win. Daniel Vergara rides Bitterbutsweet.

But Bitterbutsweet, 3, will be facing elders for the first time on Saturday, and that is a significant hurdle. Glorificamus, trained by Dan McFarlane, shipped in from Ireland last fall and won her U.S. debut, the Chandler Stakes on the Turf Paradise course at 7 1/2 furlongs. After a dull seventh in the Glendale Handicap here on the grass on Jan. 5, she has been on a strict dirt-and-sprint diet, winning an allowance race and finishing third in an optional claimer, sixth in the Princess of Palms, and third in the Cactus Flower last month. The return to turf and a longer trip might help get her back into the winner's circle. Ry Eikleberry rides.

Bye Bye Ladies comes here in peak form and may be set to succeed at a class hike. Trained by Troy Bainum, the 6-year-old finished second in two turf claiming races here earlier in the meet, then beat $16,000 claimers on this course at this trip April 4, and beat optional claimers on this course at this trip April 25. Seth Martinez rides.

Wine Tasting Room was third in an allowance turf race here April 4, her first start of the year. She can benefit from that outing. She won the Treasure Town on this course at this trip Dec. 7. A bullet 47-second work here April 25 indicates that she is doing well. Kristina Kenney rides.