Stratton dominates Hasta La Vista

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Stratton, the heavy 9-10 favorite, dominated the $30,000 Hasta La Vista at Turf Paradise on Sunday, bringing down the curtain on the 130-day, 62nd season at the Phoenix track.

Owned by Tom Metzger Sr. and the Owlcatraz Racing Stable and trained by Dan McFarlane, Stratton ($3.80) overcame a marathon distance (1 7/8 miles) in the traditional closing-day event, some tough foes and a brutally hot day (temperature about 104 degrees at race time) as he went out to the early lead under Scott Stevens, soon relinquished pacesetting duties to longshot Rebellious Diana, quickly retook the lead, opened up going to the far turn, blew the race wide open into the lane and cruised home to win easily by 6 1/2 lengths.

Blue Bomber stalked the early pace, fell back, came on again to finish second well clear of the others while no threat to the winner. Tally Stick rallied from last as the longest-priced horse in the race to be third in the field of seven.

Stratton ran the 1 7/8 miles on grass in 3:12.36. The winner’s share of $18,228 pushes his career earnings to $82,678 from six wins in 31 starts.

Turf Paradise Open Spring Futurity

Call Waiting ($3.60), the heavy 4-5 favorite after easily winning his debut here April 14 while posting the fastest qualifying time for the $61,050 Turf Paradise Open Spring Futurity, had little trouble validating such confidence from the patrons as the 2-year-old son of Uh Oh Bango won Sunday’s 5-furlong finale.

Owned by the Triple AAA Ranch and trained by Scott Rollins, Call Waiting, ridden by Chad Lindsay, dogged early pacesetter Az Dreamer, took over from that tiring rival into the lane and drew off to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

Senoradiablo, a daughter of Flat Out who easily won her qualifying division April 14, was last early, steadily advanced, pitched very wide into the lane and finished smartly for second, while Rents Over Due, another filly who also easily won her debut in a qualifier for this here April 14, was just behind the eventual winner from the start and stayed on to finish third in the field of 11 juveniles who were consigned to the 2017 ATBA Fall Sale.

Call Waiting ran the 5 furlongs in 58.32. The winner’s share of $36,430 gives him earnings of $42,444 from two wins in as many starts.

Racing returns to the Phoenix track for its 63rd season October 13.