Turf Paradise: Heavy hitter out

PHOENIX - With the region's top juvenile filly, Bugsy Marrone, chasing bigger game elsewhere, it's a chance for 11 other 2-year-old fillies to try and grab the spotlight in Saturday's fillies division of the $25,000 Arizona Breeders Futurity at Turf Paradise.

In the $25,000 colt-and-gelding division, Samurai Nanao will likely be favored in a field of 12. The two events, which go as races 6 and 7, are both carded at six furlongs.

Bugsy Marrone has run roughshod over the Arizona-bred juvenile filly division. Her absence lends an opportunity here, and it's likely one of four can take advantage: Foolofit, Diamondsrbueno, Society Cat, or It'slonelyatthetop.

Foolofit, trained by Frank Covello, has run only once, winning a statebred allowance race at Turf Paradise on Nov. 17. She fought on the pace all the way under Steve Gomez. Considering that was her only outing, she is eligible to do even better here.

Diamondsrbueno was the 1-2 favorite in that Nov. 17 race, and she chased Foolofit all the way around. Trained by Kevin Eikleberry, she was getting to the winner but ended up a half-length shy.

It'slonelyatthetop may well be favored. She beat Diamondsrbueno, when those two were a distance second and third to Bugsy Marrone in the ATBA Sales Stakes here Oct. 18. It'slonelyatthetop, trained by Nikki Fopp, recently came back to nicely win another allowance race on that Nov. 17 card, setting her up for a big run here.

The maiden Society Cat, trained by David Van Winkle gave It'slonelyatthetop all she could handle in that Nov. 17 outing.

In the boys' division, Samurai Nanao comes off an impressive allowance win Nov. 17 after five months off. Considering it was his first start here and first off a layoff he figures mighty tough with that race under his belt. Trained by Bart Hone, Samurai Nanao had a monster debut win at Yavapai in June and then finished off the board in a stakes there as the 3-5 favorite.

The main challenge figures to come from Highsideofthebay. Trained by Curt Ferguson, Highsideofthebay was nonthreatening third in the ATBA Sales Stakes here Oct. 18, but came back Nov. 17 with a smashing win. He was vanned off after the race, but that he comes back in two weeks bodes well.