On the surface, Tempe and Scottsdale are real puzzlers

PHOENIX – The question in a pair of stakes at Turf Paradise on Saturday is one of footing. The $30,000 Tempe Handicap, for 3-year-olds, and the $30,000 Scottsdale Handicap, for 3-year-old fillies, are both at a mile on turf. The dilemma for handicappers is that the main protagonists in both events have little or no turf experience.

The Tempe (race 7) and the Scottsdale (race 4) both drew 11-horse fields, meaning the trip also will be key.

Howdy Kingkowboy, He’s Munnie, and Factored In, the top three finishers in last month’s Turf Paradise Derby, renew acquaintances here. Of the three, only Factored In can boast of any turf experience, having graduated on this course at about this distance Nov. 16.

Howdy Kingkowboy, a son of Kodiak Kowboy owned by Turner Shiew and trained by Molly Pearson, cruised home by 5 1/4 lengths in the Feb. 18 Turf Paradise Derby. That was his first route.

He’s Munnie, a son of Munnings owned by Yeamans Racing Stables and trained by Dan McFarlane, chased the pace and stayed on for second in the Turf Paradise Derby.

Factored In, owned by Sawyer Cattle Co. and trained by McFarlane, won his only turf start and finished third in the Turf Paradise Derby two starts later.

Derby fourth-place finisher Most Determined, from the same owner and trainer as Factored In, easily beat maidens on this course Jan. 29. Bullet Express and One Macho Gambler are others in the field who have run well on turf.

Scottsdale Handicap

The situation is similar in the Scottsdale, as the two fillies to beat, Galactic Princess and McKenzie Honey, have no grass experience.

Galactic Princess, owned by Mark Hillman and Eleanor Martin and trained by Ty Garrett, easily won the Arizona Juvenile Fillies, a sprint, here Dec. 31. But she was then a nonfactor when fifth as the 3-5 favorite in the Arizona Oaks, her first route, here Feb. 18. That was on a wet track that she didn’t seem to care for, however, and being by Ready’s Image, who’s by the crack turf sire More Than Ready, she may take to this surface switch.

McKenzie Honey, owned by Barbara Eakin, Jonathan Nance, and Steve Smith and trained by Nance, was fifth in the Arizona Juvenile Fillies, beaten 10 1/4 lengths by Galactic Princess. But she came back to win the Arizona Oaks, dueling for the lead and drawing off to win comfortably by 2 1/4 lengths. McKenzie Honey is by Parading, who’s by the strong turf sire Pulpit, so she also may enjoy this new footing.

Irish Lass, owned by Ed Orr and trained by Stetson Rushton, is one of just two in the field with any turf experience and is the only one to have won on turf, having easily beaten maidens on this course Jan. 28.