Turf Paradise: Cal shippers sweep

California shippers won Turf Paradise's two richest races Saturday.

Captain Squire, a once-defeated California-bred gelding trained by Donald Mills, won the $100,000 Derby. Auction House, a 6-year-old Bobby Frankel-trainee, took the $142,000 Breeders' Cup Handicap on the turf.

Captain Squire led nearly all the way in the 1 1/16-mile Derby, eventually winning by one length as the 9-10 favorite. His 95 Beyer Speed Figure rates favorably with other leading 3-year-olds at this time of the year.

Auction House lost the lead late in the Breeders' Cup Handicap but came again, winning by a neck as the 9-5 second choice. Auction House has now won six of 19 races and has earned $403,680.

Turf Paradise's only other $100,000 race, the Phoenix Gold Cup, scheduled this year for March 9, is also routinely targetted by California shippers.