Stablemates look dominant in ATBA Fall Sales Stakes

PHOENIX – Fortified Effort looks to fortify his status as the top Arizona-bred 3-year-old male in Monday’s $35,000 ATBA Fall Sales Stakes at Turf Paradise. The mile main-track event is for colts and geldings 3 years old and older that passed through the 2015 or 2016 ATBA fall sales.

Fortified Effort, owned by J. Lloyd Yother, William Matthews, and Marvin Fleming and trained by Kevin Eikleberry, comes off a rallying win in the 6 1/2-furlong Cactus Wren here Dec. 8, his first start in four months. While that came sprinting, he’s won twice going 1 1/16 miles, so this distance is no problem. Regular rider Ry Eikleberry keeps the call.

Fortified Efforts’s owners and trainer also send out Yo Y Me in the field of six. Yo Y Me, 4, came back after more than four months off in the Cactus Wren. He dueled for the lead, took the lead into the lane, but then tired a bit late, ending up third, three lengths behind his stablemate. Scott Stevens rides again.

Howdy Kingkowboy, owned by Turner Shiew and Robert Morgan and trained by Jose Silva, chased the pace in the Cactus Wren before giving way badly to end up last of eight. He’s capable of much better. Parched, owned by the Seven Arms Stable and trained by David Van Winkle, was part of the duel in the Cactus Wren before finishing fifth. That was his first start on this track.

ATBA SALES STAKES (Race 6)

KEY CONTENDERS

Fortified Effort, by Ez Effort

Last 3 Beyers: 69-45-63

◗ He is the 4-5 morning-line favorite.

◗ He has won 5 of 7 at Turf Paradise, with a second and a third.

Yo Y Me, by Dixie Chatter

Last 3 Beyers: 63-66-72

◗ Has the speed to be in the thick of it from the start.

◗ Registered five of his seven wins here, including multiple stakes.

Howdy Kingkowboy, by Kodiak Kowboy

Last 3 Beyers: 20-63-63

◗ Has won going longer than this on dirt and won at this distance on turf.

◗ Worked five furlongs on Dec. 17.