Turf Paradise: Cavour wins Tempe Handicap; Papa's Flashy Girl wins Scottsdale Handicap

Cavour has apparently turned the corner, as the son of Bertrando went from maiden winner to stakes winner by posting a big upset in Saturday’s $35,000 Tempe Handicap at Turf Paradise.

Owned by Filippo Santoro and trained by Dan McFarlane, Cavour was coming off a big maiden win over the Turf Paradise grass course Feb. 18. Under Cesar Ordaz, he was last early in Saturday’s one-mile grass event for 3-year-olds, remained there to the top of the lane, and then blasted home to reel in the favored Lotsa Michief, who appeared well on his way to victory. Cavour actually drew off to win fairly comfortably by 1 1/2 lengths at 37-1.

Lotsa Mischief, the 3-5 favorite, set the pace, looked like the winner when he opened up a four-length lead into the lane, but then couldn’t fend off the winner. Saturnino rallied for third in the field of nine.

Cavour ran the distance in 1:36.80 and paid $77.20. The winner’s share of $20,832 gave him earnings of $34,479 from two wins in eight starts.

Papa's Flashy Girl wins Scottsdale Handicap

Longshots dominated the $35,000 Scottsdale Handicap at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies, as Papa’s Flashy Girl (16-1) won a three-horse photo over George’s Peach (24-1) and Idling (10-1).

Owned by Pinnacle Racing, Patrick McGhee, Saratoga West, and Lloyd DeBruycker and trained by Jeff Metz, Papa’s Flashy Girl broke her maiden easily on this grass course Jan. 28 but then was a dull ninth at 50-1 on Santa Anita’s main track Feb. 14.

The return to this site and surface did the trick, as under Rocco Bowen, she was last early in the field of nine, came with a strong run to grab the lead by midstretch, and then gamely prevailed by a head over George’s Peach, with Idling another nose back.

George’s Peach sat in midpack, made her run with the winner, and just missed, while Idling lagged back and came home gamely. One More Wild Ride, the 7-10 favorite, dogged pacesetter Tom Kha from the start but weakened from that effort, finishing sixth.

Papa’s Flashy Girl ran the distance in 1:37.42 and paid $35.40. The winner’s share of $20,832 gave her earnings of $40,151 from two wins in nine starts.