Turf Paradise: Gadsden Purchase, Rock Those Hips head ATBA Fall Sales stakes

PHOENIX – Gadsden Purchase looms a heavy favorite for the colt-and-gelding division of the $35,000 Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders Association Fall Sales Stakes, while romping Albuquerque maiden winner Rock Those Hips appears the one to beat in the filly division at Turf Paradise on Saturday.

The events, for 2-year-olds who were consigned to the 2011 ATBA Fall Sale, are both at six furlongs. The male division goes as race 7 and drew a field of nine, while 10 fillies go in race 9.

Gadsden Purchase, trained and partially owned by Doug Oliver, is the proven commodity. A son of Eddington, Gadsden Purchase cost a mere $2,500 at the ATBA sale a year ago and has more than paid for himself by earning more than $34,000. He won his debut here by four lengths April 20 and then won the ATBA Spring Sales Stakes on May 6. Gadsden Purchase got some time off and came back to be third in an allowance race here Oct. 5. Anne Von Rosen has the ride again.

One threat appears to be Lewiston. Owned and trained by Don Schnell, Lewiston ran third in his debut at Assiniboia Downs on Sept. 1, but came here Oct. 7 and proved a smart maiden winner. Red Zeus, who was second to Lewiston that day, beaten a length, is in here as well. Falcon Lane, an easy maiden winner at Arapahoe on June 3, makes his first start since then.

Rock Those Hips, trained by Kevin Eikleberry, ran third in her debut here April 20. She didn’t race again until Sept. 19 at Albuquerque, where she blasted maidens by five lengths. Ry Eikleberry rides the likely favorite in the filly division.

Youbetshewon got her career off to a super start for trainer Tim Gleason. She won her first two starts here and then was second to male Gadsden Purchase in the ATBA Spring Stakes here. She went to Lincoln Racecourse and ran second in a stakes there July 8, then romped by 8 1/4 lengths in a stakes at Columbus on Aug. 12. However, Youbetshewon then dueled and faded to sixth here Oct. 5. She veered inward and was disqualified to ninth. Jorge Carreno rides.