Turf Paradise: Jaws n' Paws, E Z Kitty resume rivalry in Princess of Palms
PHOENIX – There was no doubt the top two distaffers at Turf Paradise last season were Jaws n’ Paws and E Z Kitty. Those two gals come from different directions to once again run headlong into one another in Saturday’s $35,000 Princess of Palms Stakes. The six-furlong event for fillies and mares drew a field of seven.
Jaws n’ Paws, a 6-year-old mare owned by Stateside Racing and trained by Robertino Diodoro, is a perfect 4 for 4 here, and that includes a 9 1/4-length romp in this race in April 2012 (it also was brought back in October of last year). This year, she romped in an optional claimer Feb. 8 and captured the Mesa Handicap on March 9, beating E Z Kitty back into second by 2 1/2 lengths. Jaws n’ Paws then went to Sunland Park and easily won the Czaria.
But after two months off, she went to Northlands Park for the Wild Rose Handicap on June 7 and was eased as the 6-5 favorite. She hasn’t raced since. She has worked well for this, and Giovanni Franco, who was up for her two wins here last spring, is back aboard.
E Z Kitty, meanwhile, won the Kachina and the Sun City here last season. In spring, she shipped to Emerald Downs and ran second in an allowance race before winning the Hastings Handicap there May 12. She later romped in the Emerald Distaff Handicap on Aug. 18 and Pegasus there Sept. 18 to stamp herself the top distaffer in Seattle. Owned by Highlanders Racing Stable LLC and trained by Jeff Metz, E Z Kitty returns with Scott Stevens aboard.
This is hardly a two-horse race, however. Woebegon, trained by Diodoro, invades from Southern California, where she won two of her last four. She’s to be ridden by Jorge Carreno. Page Springs, maybe the quickest horse on the grounds, resurfaces for trainer Dan McFarlane for her first start since finishing second in the Ann Owens Distaff Handicap here April 27. She’s 6 for 11 here and won this race last Oct. 6.
Tribal Gal is a dangerous shipper as well. The speedy 3-year-old filly, trained by Kory Owens, romped in her only local start when she captured the Joanne Dye on April 27 by 6 1/4 lengths. She comes off a pair of races against some toughies at Del Mar this summer.