Todo Es Toro comes from far back in Gene Fleming Breeders' Derby

PHOENIX – Todo Es Toro won his maiden on grass at Turf Paradise on April 6, but the step up into stakes action and return to dirt didn’t bother the 3-year-old gelding in the least as he posted a mild upset in Saturday’s $48,000 Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby. The Derby was the lead event of five stakes as the Phoenix track celebrated the local product on Arizona-bred day.

Todo Es Toro ($12.40), owned by Tawnja Elison and trained by Jack McCartney, bided his time early in the 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-old Arizona-breds, remained toward the back under Jose Leon, came with a very wide run into the lane, and powered home to grab the lead by the sixteenth pole and draw away to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Bold Flame, the 6-5 favorite, dueled from the start, still held a narrow lead to midstretch, but couldn’t withstand the winner’s charge, ending up second. Keyson, part of the pace duel, held on for third in the field of six.

Todo Es Toro, a son of Line of David, ran the distance in 1:46.28. The winner’s share of $25,500 gives him earnings of $35,673 from two wins in four starts.

In other stakes action:

Let Me Fly ($3.80) rallied to prove a prompt choice in Saturday’s $38,400 Joanne Dye Breeders’ Oaks. Owned by in partnership by Lloyd Yother, William Matthews, Marvin Fleming and trainer Kevin Eikleberry, the 3-year-old daughter of Ez Dreamer was last early in the 7 1/2-furlong grass event under Ry Eikleberry but made a smart early move to take the lead on the far turn, opened up and held on to win by three-quarters of a length over a hard-trying Star Sundae. Diva’s Diva ran third in the field of five sophomore fillies.

Let Me Fly ran the distance in 1:32.29 and the winner’s share of $20,640 pushes her bankroll to $90,679 from three wins in 12 starts. This was her second start on turf and first win on the surface.

Beat the Heat ($13.80) was second but well behind Thegloryisallmine on this turf course March 26. Well, more ground did the trick as the 4-year-old gelded son of Uh Oh Bango got his revenge, capturing Saturday’s $30,000 Dwight D. Patterson at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Owned by the Triple AAA Ranch and trained by Lymon Perren, he sat last early in the five-horse field under Scott Stevens as Thegloryisallmine dueled with Yo Y Me up front, remained there to the top of the lane, moved out to start his run, angled back to the inside in midstretch, and finished resolutely to just get up and edge Thegloryisallmine by a nose.

Thegloryisallmine, the 7-10 favorite off that aforementioned romping five-length win here March 26, dueled with Yo Y Me from the start through solid splits, dispatched with that foe into the lane, opened up a clear lead by midstretch as if going on to victory but drifted out as he tired a bit and got nipped by the rallying winner to his inside in the final strides. Yo Y Me finished 2 1/2 lengths back in third.

Beat the Heat ran the distance in 1:42.81. The winner’s share of $18,600 gives him earnings of $59,022 from three wins in 12 starts.

Fortified Effort ($2.80) got hammered at the windows despite giving ample weight to his seven rivals and he backed up that confidence, proving a handy winner of Saturday’s $30,000 Lyman and Bradley Rollins Handicap.

Owned in partnership by Lloyd Yother, William Matthews, Marvin Fleming, and trainer Kevin Eikleberry, the 4-year-old gelded son of Ez Effort broke decently under Ry Eikleberry in the six-furlong event and was content to stalk as J P Rocker set a hot pace. The eventual winner went after that foe into the lane, reeled him in, and edged clear for a 1 1/2-length victory. Midnight Officer rallied for second, while J P Rocker, the pacesetter, finished third.

Fortified Effort ran the six furlongs in 1:10.03. The winner’s share of $18,042 gives him earnings of $280,538 from 10 wins in 22 starts.

Raging Lady ($6.60) continued her hot run as the 5-year-old daughter of Top Hit made it three straight wins and four wins in her last five starts capturing Saturday’s $30,000 Ann Owens Distaff Handicap.

Owned by Jesus Torres and trained by Fernando Gamez, Raging Lady, the 2-1 favorite, stalked in third in the six-furlong event for distaffers as Foggia and Beauty Black dueled through strong splits. Raging Lady remained in stalking mode under Francisco Arrieta, made her run into the lane, got the better of then-leader Beauty Black, and was able to outfinish closer Littlesisterdon’tu to win by three-quarters of a length. Littlesisterdon’tu rallied from last to get second, while Sierrita stalked and ran on for third in the field of eight.

Raging Lady ran the distance in 1:10.13 and the winner’s share of $18,042 gives her earnings of $52,179 from five wins in 10 starts.