Turf Paradise: Brass Plate relishes return home in Wildcat Handicap

Brass Plate reveled in his return to his home base, capturing Saturday’s $35,000 Wildcat Handicap at Turf Paradise.

Owned by Steve Henson and trained by Jim Frey, the 4-year-old Brass Plate ventured to Santa Anita and posted a pair of solid third-place finishes. Returning to his backyard, Brass Plate lagged back in the 1 3/8-mile grass race for 3-year-olds and up, swung very wide into the lane, surged to the lead under Jake Barton, and then gamely held off the hard-charging Edgerin J. That rival was behind Brass Plate much of the way and just failed to catch him, while finishing well clear of Double Shuffle, who ran on for third in the field of nine. All Saint, the defending champ and 6-5 favorite, bounced out to a clear lead but weakened in the lane to finish fourth.

Brass Plate paid $8 and ran the distance in 2:15.57. The winner’s share of $20,832 gives him career earnings of $82,727 from 5 wins in 18 starts. He figures to next show up in the 1 7/8-mile Hasta La Vista, the traditional closing-day feature here May 6.

A Political Time uncatchable in Arizona Sallion

A Political Time went right to the lead and never looked back as the 3-year-old son of Top Hit captured the $37,224 Arizona Stallion Stakes.

Owned by J. Lloyd Yother and trained by Kevin Eikleberry, A Political Time was the 9-5 favorite going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf despite having dueled and fading badly to run ninth in his last start and first-ever grass try in the Tempe Handicap here March 17. He did check very hard going to the far turn in that race, which accounted for the severe fade. A Political Time had no such issues here, as under Scott Stevens he broke sharply, went right to the lead, took some pressure while still able to set modest fractions before edging away in the lane to win by two lengths. She’s a Hit, a filly facing males, rallied for second while Ten Ninety Seven ran third in the field of seven.

A Political Time paid $5.60 and ran the distance in 1:31.78. The winner’s share of $20,680 pushes his career earnings to $79,056 from 3 wins in 9 starts.