Statebreds get chance at payday on stakes-rich card

PHOENIX – A stakes-laden card highlights local horses at Turf Paradise on Saturday, led by divisions of the $30,000 Arizona Breeders’ Futurity at six furlongs for 2-year-olds bred in Arizona.

The colts-and-geldings division, race 6, drew a field of seven that includes the stakes winner Yo Y Me. The fillies’ division, race 3, drew a field of six led by the stakes-placed Top Hat Wildcat and the talented maiden Bring On the Bling.

Also on the card are the $25,000 Cactus Flower (race 2), a 6 1/2-furlong event for fillies and mares bred in Arizona or passed through any of the ATBA fall sales; it drew a field of six. The 6 1/2-furlong, $25,000 Cactus Wren (race 8), features nine males bred in the state or put through an ATBA fall sale.

Yo Y Me, owned by William Matthews and Kevin Eikleberry and trained by Eikleberry, has blossomed since returning here. The gelded son of Dixie Chatter posted two seconds in his first two starts here in the spring, including in the ATBA Spring Sales Stakes.

He then went to Emerald Downs, where he ran second and third this summer; he returned here Oct. 17 and won easily. He backed it up with a smart victory in the ATBA Fall Sales Stakes here Nov. 5.

His main rival may be Sedona Sunrise, a son of Bulldogger who was sixth in the ATBA Fall Sales Stakes, 10 1/2 lengths behind Yo Y Me. However, he moved forward here Nov. 22 when rallying past maidens for owner Filippo Santoro and trainer Molly Pearson.

Top Hat Wildcat, a daughter of Margie’s Wildcat owned by Top Hat Thoroughbreds and trained by Dan McFarlane, gamely beat maidens at Canterbury Park on Aug. 27 in her second career start. She then came here and ran second to runaway winner McKenzie Honey in the ATBA Fall Sales Stakes. While she was beaten by eight lengths, she finished 7 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher and Saturday foe Bring On the Bling.

Bring On the Bling, owned by Mark Buckley and Dru Hall and trained by Hall, is a maiden after three starts, dueling and fading to fifth in her debut at Arapahoe on July 24. However, the daughter of Bulldogger was freshened, came here Nov. 5, and ran third to Top Hat Wildcat in the ATBA Fall Sales Stakes. She then dueled and ran third against maidens here Nov. 22.

◗ Mobiledixie may be the one to beat in the Cactus Flower, though she comes with question marks. After 10 straight top-three finishes, including second in a stakes here in the spring, she dueled and was eased in a route stakes at Arapahoe on July 24 and hasn’t been seen since. She’s worked well, and the distance cutback helps. Proven Arizona-bred stakes performers Myrna Lou and Lieutenant Margie head the opposition.

◗ Rockin Home, a 5-year-old gelded son of Rocky Bar, may prove tough in the Cactus Wren. He won an 870-yard race here Oct. 23 and was second to runaway winner Kaabraaj in the Luke Kruytbosch here Nov. 12. Kaabraaj has to be considered the best sprinter on the grounds.

Rocked Twice, the winner of this race last year but a dull sixth in the Kruytbosch, and Ride Hard Kowboy, a stakes winner on dirt here and in the Walter Cluer on turf here Nov. 26, lead the competition.