Trio looks to double up

PHOENIX Trio blasted home to beat maidens by 12 on the Turf Paradise turf Feb. 25, and she takes a big step up in Saturday's $45,000 Scottsdale Handicap there. Eight 3-year-olds fillies will go in the Scottsdale, run at about a mile on turf.

Trio, owned by Stuart Tsujimoto and trained by Molly Pearson, didn't appear to be going anywhere to start her career. She perked up on Keeneland's synthetic main track last fall, finishing second against maiden claimers, but then ran fourth at Turfway in December. Later that month at Tampa, she opened up a clear lead in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race and finished third. Then she came here.

Trio stalked the pace going a mile on the turf Feb. 25, then surged to the lead and just kept going. The runner-up, Miss Fast Dancer, came right back to win. Kristina Kenny, who rode Trio for the first time that day, has the return call.

Famous Gal comes off a strong win in the Cactus Cup here March 11. Trained by Joe Johnson, she has won 3 of 6 but all have been dirt sprints, so she faces a new surface and distance. She is by a solid turf sire in Western Fame and worked on this turf course March 27. Juan Rivera rides.

Staten Island is likely the best 3-year-old dirt filly on the circuit, but she is making her first start on turf. She is coming off a second in the Sun Devil and a victory in the Arizona Oaks. Her sire, In Excess, is a strong turf sire and was a graded stakes winner on the turf. Sandi Gann rides.

Point Me the Way and Cool All Over, one-two finishers in a mile turf allowance race here March 19, also are entered.