Storm Power needs best in Cotton Fitzsimmons

PHOENIX – Three straight stakes wins have propelled Storm Power to the top of the pecking order at Turf Paradise. But when the 5-year-old gelding goes into Saturday’s $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Handicap at a mile on turf, he faces his toughest task. Two dangerous Southern California raiders and an ultra-sharp stablemate are among the nine who stand in his way.

Also on the Saturday card is the $35,000 Glendale Handicap. That one-mile turf event for fillies and mares drew a field of seven.

Storm Power started his career in Southern California, where he flashed ability, but he’s made a transformation for owner Mercedes Stables LLC and trainer Robertino Diodoro since coming here. He easily won the opening-weekend Bienvenidos, a dirt sprint, here Oct. 18. He next went in the Walter Cluer Memorial here Nov. 29 at a mile on turf and again won easily. That’s his only turf start.

Storm Power moved back to dirt for the Hank Mills Sr. Handicap at a mile Dec. 20 and was able to fend off a stubborn Az Ridge (whom he faces Saturday) to win by a head. Geovanni Franco was up for all three and rides again in the Cotton Fitzsimmons.

Power Ped has been facing some of the turf elite in Southern California. Trained by Neil Drysdale, he invades with promising young rider Flavien Prat.

Trend is another Southern California invader. Trained by Dick Mandella, the 8-year-old last ran seventh – with Power Ped second – against tough optional claimers at Del Mar on Nov. 20.

Twelve Tribes, like Storm Power trained by Diodoro, comes here razor sharp. He won three straight on turf before winning the Luke Kruytbosch in the mud here Dec. 31. Franco was up for all four wins, but he remains with Storm Power, and Jorge Carreno has the call.

Fast Track and Red Zeus were second and third to Storm Power in the Walter Cluer. Az Ridge, a sharp second in this race last year, will try to improve on his second to Storm Power in the Hank Mills Sr.

◗ Lady Rosberg, Ricspretentiousgal, and Rock and Glory renew their rivalry in the Glendale. They ran 1-2-3 in the Queen of the Green on this course and at this trip Nov. 29.

Rock and Glory ran second and third in the Kachina Handicap at a mile on the main track here Dec. 20.

Ricspretentiousgal skipped the Kachina. She won this race last year in handy fashion.

COTTON FITZSIMMONS (RACE 7)

KEY CONTENDERS

Storm Power (Last 3 Beyers: 91-89-88)

◗ He tries to remain perfect at Turf Paradise.

◗ He should be in line for a good trip because he has the speed to be prominent from the start and may be able to get first run on the strong closers.

◗ Showed he holds his edge with a sizzling five-furlong work here Jan. 7 in 58.20 seconds.

Power Ped (Last 3 Beyers: 96-88-81)

◗ Not surprisingly, he enjoys the grass as a son of Powerscourt, a Grade 1 turf winner in the U.S. and Group 1 turf winner in Europe.

◗ He comes off a third in the Grade 2 San Gabriel at Santa Anita on Jan. 3, 1 3/4 lengths behind winner Finnegans Wake.

◗ He does his best running in the lane but doesn’t have to come from way out of it.

Twelve Tribes (Last 3 Beyers: 72-75-86)

◗ He has won 4 of 5 turf starts and is 2 for 2 on this course, including rallying to win the Jeff and Jack Coady Sr. at this distance Nov. 8.

◗ He appears to be delivering on the promise of his pedigree. He’s by Street Cry, the sire of Zenyatta and Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, and out of Leah’s Secret, a multiple Grade 2 winner.

◗ Trainer Diodoro and jockey Carreno have won at a strong 27 percent together the past 12-plus months.

GLENDALE (RACE 4)

KEY CONTENDERS

Lady Rosberg (Last 3 Beyers: 75-81-77)

◗ Since winning the Queen of the Green, she finished third in the Kachina on dirt after making an early move into a fast pace.

◗ She has speed but isn’t a need-the-lead type. Her Queen of the Green win was accomplished with a pace-pressing trip, and she didn’t take the lead until inside the final half-furlong.

◗ She worked four furlongs in 46.80 here Jan. 11.

Ricspretentiousgal (Last 3 Beyers: 80-80-75)

◗ She was beaten a half-length by Lady Rosberg in the Queen of the Green and was cutting into her lead with every stride.

◗ She has won on the lead, from just off the pace, and from well off the pace.

Rock and Glory (Last 3 Beyers: 83-80-81)

◗ She has finished third in each of her three grass starts.

◗ She may be the quickest horse in the field. She’s had the lead by the second call in 10 of her last 12 starts.