Turf Paradise: Jaws n' Paws, Tribal Gal look to rebound in City of Phoenix Stakes

Saturday’s $35,000 City of Phoenix Stakes at Turf Paradise is a chance for redemption for a couple of big-shot distaffers.

Jaws n’ Paws, a multiple stakes winner and 5 for 6 on this track, looks to bounce back from a dull stakes run at Zia Park in New Mexico, while Tribal Gal, the romping winner of the Princess of Palms here Oct. 12, seeks to rebound after finishing a troubled fifth (awarded fourth via disqualification) as the 1-5 favorite in the Cactus Flower here Nov. 23.

But this is far from a two-horse race, as the likes of the very sharp Lady Jila and Love Makor and multiple stakes winners Page Springs and Gosailgo are among the 11 distaffers entered in the six-furlong main-track event.

Jaws n’ Paws, owned by Stateside Racing and trained by Robertino Diodoro, has been a true professional for years. The 6-year-old mare is 15 for 33. Her lone loss on this track, a second, came in the Princess of Palms to Tribal Gal. She then easily won an optional claimer here Nov. 3, beating Love Makor and Got an Itch, who both came right back to win.

Jaws n’ Paws shipped to Zia Park for the Zia Distaff on Nov. 27 but broke poorly and was no factor, finishing seventh. She returns to her favorite track and might bounce back to top form. Regular rider Geovanni Franco keeps the mount.

Tribal Gal, owned by John Pendergast and trained by Joseph Johnson, won the Joanne Dye Stakes here in April and then held her own in California. She returned here to easily win the Princess of Palms, beating Jaws n’ Paws by 5 1/4 lengths. That made her the heavy favorite in the Cactus Flower, but after pressing the pace, she got bumped and crowded in the lane, losing her action and finishing fifth. Juan Rivera rides.

Lady Jila has three wins and two seconds in her last five starts. Like Jaws n’ Paws, she’s been a real pro, winning 16 of 37, with nine of those wins here.

Love Makor was third to Jaws n’ Paws in the Mesa Handicap here March 9, was sidelined eight months, came back to be second to Jaws n’ Paws in an optional claimer here Nov. 3, and then easily won an optional claimer here Nov. 29.

Page Springs is a multiple stakes winner here. She ran fourth in this race last year and can sizzle early, but she hasn’t won in more than a year.

Gosailgo won her only start here April 13, is a stakes winner, and is stakes-placed at Hastings, Emerald Downs, and Northlands Park.