Turf Paradise: Fire With Fire invades to win Fiztsimmons Mile

Southern California raider Fire With Fire had run into the likes of Grade 1 winner Jeranimo and some other top grass horses on the West Coast. Trainer Neil Drysdale shipped him to Turf Paradise for the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap on Saturday, and the change of altitude did the trick as the David Heerensperger colorbearer showed his class in victory.

The 6-year-old gelded son of Distorted Humor, who had competed in a number of graded stakes in Southern California, sat midpack early while saving ground. He steadily advanced, grabbed the lead into the lane, and gamely fended off the hard-trying local Az Ridge to win by a neck under Julien Couton.

Az Ridge, who had not run first or second in five prior grass starts, showed his current sharpness, though, as he was just behind the winner from the start, went with that foe into the lane and battled gamely, but just missed.

Hammers Terror, coming off a dull run (12th) in the Diliberto at Fair Grounds on Dec. 21 (though the one-two finishers there, Daddy Nose Best and Adios Nardo, came back to run one-two in Saturday’s Grade 3 Col. E.R. Bradley there earlier Saturday), dogged pacesetter Mr. Bossy Pants, put that foe away into the lane, and stayed on gamely for third, beaten just two necks.

Mr. Bossy Pants, like the winner a well-regarded Southern California invader, went right out to the lead, set a brisk pace, but weakened, finishing seventh in the field of 11.

Fire With Fire ran the mile on firm turf in 1:35.81 and paid $4.60 as the favorite. The winner’s share of $43,710 gives him earnings of $395,354 from 5 wins in 29 starts.

Glendale: Ricspretentiousgal finishes strong

Ricspretentiousgal, a $40,000 claim at Santa Anita by owner/trainer Robertino Diodoro, proved his judgment correct as the 5-year-old mare invaded to capture the $35,000 Glendale Handicap, toppling the circuit’s top distaffer, E Z Kitty, in the process.

Under Geovanni Franco, the daughter of Kela bided her time early in the 1 1/16-mile turf event for fillies and mares while saving ground, moved out for room into the lane to commence her run, and finished smartly to get up to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

She’s Stella Marie stalked and ran on for second, while Enlightened closed from well back to be third in the field of 10. E Z Kitty, the 6-5 favorite, dogged pacesetter Justcallheraggie, grabbed the lead in midstretch, but failed to sustain her run.

Ricspretentiousgal ran the distance in 1:43.10 and paid $7.80 as the second choice. The winner’s share of $20,615 gives her earnings of $238,945 from 6 wins in 21 starts.