Shesa Private I back in top form

PHOENIX - A freshening and a return to Turf Paradise did the trick for Shesa Private I, who upset heavily favored Briecat in the $50,000 Mesa Handicap, part of a stakes tripleheader at Turf Paradise Saturday.

Owned by Tangarae Farms LLP and trained by Bart Hone, Shesa Private I stalked the pace in the 6 1/2-furlong event for older fillies and mares, took over into the lane and edged away, beating runner-up Born With Eagles by 1 3/4 lengths. Stolen Heart finished well from last to get third. Briecat, the 1-2 favorite off graded stakes performances in Southern California, stalked the pace but fell away to be fourth in the field of seven.

Shesa Private I covered the distance in 1:15.57 under Jake Barton. She paid $8.20 as the second choice and the winner's share of $30,000 pushes her career bankroll to $280,755 from 11 wins in 28 starts.

Lesson in Deceit moves up on turf

Lesson in Deceit was no match for Hidden Bounty and Just Jebicah in some dirt outings here but turf is his forte and he proved it again with a rallying victory in the $50,000 Tempe Handicap. Owned by Gordon Cooper and Ron and Craig Stevens, and trained by Ron Stevens, Lesson in Deceit was last early in the mile turf race for 3-year-old, bided his time, pitched very wide for the stretch run and blew past the field to win going away by 3 1/2 lengths under Barton, giving him two stakes wins on the day. Winning Vow also rallied from far back to get second while One Call, part of the pace, stayed on for third in the field of 10. Hidden Bounty, the 8-5 favorite, dueled with One Call but faltered a bit in the lane to be fifth.

Lesson in Deceit ran the distance in 1:35.82 and paid $12.80. The winner's share of $30,000 gives him $50,182 from two wins - both on turf - in seven starts.

Woddy's Bluff comes running

Woody's Bluff parlayed previous turf success to victory in the $50,000 Scottsdale Handicap. Owned by Honor Roll Racing and trained by Dennis Sowers, Woody's Bluff sat well back early in the mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies, made a smart move between horses into the lane and continued on gamely, getting to the wire three-quarters of a length in front of Sweetwaterwind, who closed strongly from last. Dash Dot Dash, the 6-5 favorite, dogged pacesetter Fancy Free Kelli but couldn't fend off the top two in the final yards, finishing third in the field of seven.

Woody's Bluff, ridden by Ry Eikleberry, covered the distance in 1:37.15. She paid $10.60 and the winner's share of $30,000 pushes her bankroll to $40,160 from two wins in four starts. Her two wins came the only two times she's raced on grass.