Surface change in Kachina Stakes shouldn't bother Brookys Star
PHOENIX – Brookys Star comes off a strong win on turf in the Queen of the Green on Nov. 25 at Turf Paradise. She looks to transfer that form to dirt in Saturday’s $25,000 Kachina Stakes.
The mile main-track event for fillies and mares drew a field of 10 plus one also-eligible and goes as race 7 on an eight-race program.
Brookys Star, owned by Jethorse LLC and trained by Sandi Gann, led all the way to win the Queen of the Green. She’s also proven on dirt, having run second in the six-furlong Princess of Palms here two starts back. Her maiden win came on dirt.
Patrick Canchari rides Brookys Star on Saturday.
Fight to Glory, owned by Charles Garvey and trained by Robertino Diodoro, has raced only on dirt and has won three of her last four, including taking the Phoenix Stakes here Nov. 11. The Kachina marks her first route, but as a daughter of American Lion, who won the 1 1/8-mile Illinois Derby, she’s certainly bred for the distance. Daniel Vergara rides.
Comet Sixty Two, owned by Barro Racing and trained by Dan McFarlane, stalked the pace and ran third to Brookys Star in the Queen of the Green. While four of her wins and the bulk of her best work has come on turf, she has won on dirt. Scott Stevens rides.
KACHINA STAKES (Race 7)
KEY CONTENDERS
Brookys Star, by Giant’s Causeway
(Last 3 Beyers: 75-69-56)
◗ She has done her best work on the lead, as two of her three wins came wire to wire.
◗ Boasts two solid works since her Queen of the Green win.
Fight to Glory, by American Lion
(Last 3 Beyers: 75-68-73)
◗ May be the one to catch as she routinely set the pace sprinting.
◗ Her grandsire, Tiznow, was a two-time winner of the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic, and her damsire, Bandini, was a Grade 1 route winner.
Comet Sixty Two, by Stroll
(Last 3 Beyers: 71-74-71)
◗ She has done her best work in stalking mode.
◗ Put in two recent bullet works over this main track.