Turf Paradise Derby, Arizona Oaks filled with possibilities

At this time of year, the focus nationally tends to be on the 3-year-olds. Turf Paradise in Phoenix gets into the act Saturday with the $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby and $35,000 Arizona Oaks.

The derby, at 1 1/16 miles, drew a field of eight 3-year-old males, headed by smashing maiden winner Gross Misconduct, Lost in the Fog Juvenile winner My Rochester, and romping optional-claiming winner Lotsa Mischief. The Oaks, at a mile for 3-year-old fillies, drew a highly competitive field of seven, including multiple stakes winner Lazy Daisy May.

Gross Misconduct, owned by Dylan Heppner and TG Racing LLC and trained by Robertino Diodoro, may be a maiden winner only, but it was some win. He debuted at Northlands Park last July 20 and ran well to be second. A son of Keyed Entry, Gross Misconduct wasn’t seen again until he showed up here Feb. 3 with blinkers. He went right to the lead under Geovanni Franco, took some early pressure, and drew off to win by 7 1/2 lengths, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 72.

Gross Misconduct has some hurdles to overcome Saturday, including his first time going a route and having to handle other talented speed horses. Franco is aboard again.

Lotsa Mischief has the field’s top two Beyers. He earned a 78 when romping by 5 3/4 lengths in an optional-claiming dirt sprint at Turf Paradise on Oct. 20. He was third to My Rochester in the Dec. 28 Lost in the Fog Juvenile here but then moved to turf here Feb. 7 and blasted rivals by six lengths, earning a 76 Beyer.

Trained by Dan McFarlane, Lotsa Mischief posted a bullet five-furlong work in 59.80 seconds here Feb. 17. Skyler Whiteshield, up for that big Feb. 7 win, is aboard again.

My Rochester, like Gross Misconduct trained by Diodoro, won the Lost in the Fog Juvenile here Dec. 28 and then shipped to Sunland Park where he was second in the KHEY Sprint on Jan. 26. Jorge Carreno rides.

Arizona Oaks anyone’s race

The Oaks is a brutally tough affair, but favoritism may fall to Lazy Daisy May. Owned by Stable HMA and trained by Jolly Pearson, she won three straight here last year, all stakes. She was then second to Saturday foe Idling in the Arizona Juvenile Filly here Dec. 28, went to Southern California and ran eighth Jan. 19, and returned here Feb. 7 against males on turf and ran second to Lotsa Mischief, one of the favorites for the Turf Paradise Derby.

Any of a number of fillies can win the Oaks.

Afsana, a Tiznow filly from the Darley Stable of Sheikh Mohammed, comes off a maiden win routing at Golden Gate. Awesome Drama invades from New Mexico off a third in the El Paso Times Handicap at Sunland Park on Jan. 25. Idling won the Arizona Juvenile Filly here Dec. 28 before shipping to Sunland Park where she was fifth in the El Paso Times Handicap.

Jet Set Kitten was third to Idling and Lazy Daisy May in the Arizona Juvenile Filly here Dec. 28 and then second against males in the Portland Meadows Derby on Jan. 19. One More Wild Ride invades from Southern California where she was a route winner on dirt. She comes off a third against optional claimers there Feb. 14 and was claimed for $40,000. Let Her Dance invades from New Mexico after running second in the El Paso Times Handicap at Sunland Park on Jan. 25, finishing ahead of a number of Saturday’s rivals.