Surface switch may be key for High Security in Wildcat

PHOENIX – A return to grass could be the key for High Security in Saturday’s $30,000 Wildcat Handicap at Turf Paradise. The 1 3/8-mile event, which goes as race 5 on the card, drew a competitive field of 11. The Wildcat serves as a stepping-stone to the 1 7/8-mile Hasta La Vista on closing day May 6.

Also on the Saturday card is the $30,000 Arizona Stallion Stakes. The 7 1/2-furlong grass event for 3-year-olds conceived by a nominated stallion standing in Arizona goes as race 3 and drew a field of six.

High Security, owned by Seven Arms Stable and Darcy Peterson and trained by David Van Winkle, posted two big efforts on grass earlier this meet. The 6-year-old son of Malibu Moon got up for second in the Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile on Jan. 13 and rallied for third in the Turf Paradise Handicap on Feb. 10. He moved to dirt for a tough allowance race here on March 3, but after dueling for the early lead faded to fourth. Scott Stevens stays aboard.

Power Corrupt, owned by Mitch Sutherland and trained by Jim Brown, ran ninth in the Fitzsimmons but came back to romp in a tough optional claimer on this course Feb. 25. The 5-year-old gelded son of Storm Victory has won 3 of his 4 grass starts, all at Turf Paradise.

Blue Bomber won this race last year and enters the 2018 renewal off a third in the Feb. 25 optional claimer won by Power Corrupt. That was his first start in five months, so he could improve Saturday. Pacific Nights is a stakes winner on this course and comes off a rallying second in the Turf Distance Series finale here March 17.

◗ John Arnold is one of only two winners in the Arizona Stallion field, and is also one of the only runners with turf experience. The Kevin Eikleberry-trained Ez Effort gelding dueled for the lead and ran fourth going a mile Feb. 26 in his first grass attempt. Way Out, still a maiden, is the only other entrant with grass experience. Another son of Ez Effort, he was fourth here on March 12 in his first try on grass.