Tactical Rocket looks to bounce back in Arizona Breeders' Futurity

PHOENIX – A sluggish start in her first outing in almost four months did its damage to Tactical Rocket in a Turf Paradise stakes Nov. 2, but the daughter of Deputy Wild Cat will look to bounce back when she heads a field of 10 in the juvenile fillies division of the $35,000 Arizona Breeders’ Futurity on Saturday at the Phoenix track. The six-furlong event is for 2-year-old Arizona-bred fillies.

Meanwhile, trial winners Crazy Al and Hawkeye Gold head a field of 10 in the $35,000 colts-and-geldings division, also at six furlongs.

Tactical Rocket, owned by Dino and Josephine Bates and trained by Dan McFarlane, showed promise here in the spring. She then went to Canterbury Park this summer, ran third against males, and beat fillies for her diploma July 19. After a layoff, she came here for the ATBA Sales Stakes on Nov. 2, got away sluggishly, and had more trouble going down the backstretch before running on for fifth.

Crazy Al, owned by Triple AAA Ranch and trained by Kory Owens, ran his first six starts in Northern California. He came here for a Nov. 19 trial for this and easily beat his rivals by 4 1/4 lengths at 1-20.

Hawkeye Gold, owned by Hawkeye Racing Stables LLC and trained by Jimmy Pickard, dueled and gave way badly to end up ninth in the ATBA Sales Stakes on Nov. 2 but bounced back to duel and win his trial at 20-1 here Nov. 19.

Also on the card are the $25,000 Cactus Flower, for Arizona-bred fillies and mares ages 3 and up at 6 1/2 furlongs, and the $25,000 Cactus Wren, for Arizona-bred 3-year-olds and up, also at 6 1/2 furlongs. The Cactus Flower is led by the stakes winner and multiple stakes-placed Aware, while the Cactus Wren is a competitive event, pitting the multiple stakes-placed Deadly Black Eagle against the stakes winners J P Rocker, Jamaican Memories, Frisky Ricky and Rockin Home and the sharp former claimer Genuine Cowboy.

Fillies division (race 6)

Key contenders

Tactical Rocket (Last 3 Beyers: 32-71-54)

* Showed quality here in the spring, finishing third in a stakes May 4.

* Can certainly be a factor with a better start, as she showed ample tactical speed in her first four races.

* Owns easily the top Beyer Speed Figure in the race, a 71 earned when she beat maidens July 19 at Canterbury Park.

Myrna Lou (Last 3 Beyers: 27-53-49)

* Showed quality in California when stakes-placed on dirt at Pleasanton in the summer.

* Dueled and faded to seventh in the ATBA Sales Stakes on Nov. 2, but she doesn’t need the lead. She won from off the pace Aug. 6 at Del Mar.

Anita Sunset (Last 3 Beyers: 34-10-49)

* Won her maiden sprinting here May 2.

* May improve as after failing to threaten in three starts in Southern California, she made some headway late to be fourth in the ATBA Sales Stakes here Nov. 2.

Open division (race 7)

Key contenders

Crazy Al (Last 3 Beyers: 45-37-56)

* Defeated a number of Saturday’s rivals when easily winning his Nov. 19 trial for this and looms a strong favorite again.

* Figures in the vanguard from the start as he’s only been more than a length off the pace at the second margin call once in seven starts.

* Hails from owners, a trainer, and a sire who historically have been among the elite in the Arizona-bred ranks.

Hawkeye Gold (Last 3 Beyers: 47-33-31)

* May have turned the corner as his Nov. 19 upset tally came after he was no threat in the lane in his first three starts.

* Showed the ability to duel and keep going under Patrick Canchari, who was up for the first time in his last and keeps the mount.

Prater Sixty Four (Last 2 Beyers: 34-21)

* Showed talent right out of the box when stalking the pace before going on to victory in his debut here Nov. 5.

* Stalked the pace before finishing second to likely favorite Crazy Al in a trial for this here Nov. 19 but certainly could improve off that. He has enough tactical speed to get a good stalking trip.