Turf Paradise: Lotsa Mischief, One More Wild Ride look to ace turf tests

When Lotsa Mischief easily won the Turf Paradise Derby on Feb. 22, he established himself as the top 3-year-old male on dirt on the Phoenix circuit. That same day, One More Wild Ride romped in the Arizona Oaks, putting herself at the top of the heap of 3-year-old fillies on dirt.

On Saturday, the two will try to extend their reign over their respective divisions on turf, as Lotsa Mischief leads the $35,000 Tempe Handicap for 3-year-old males and One More Wild Ride heads the field in the $35,000 Scottsdale Handicap for 3-year-old fillies. Each race is at a mile and drew a field of nine. The Tempe goes as race 4, the Scottsdale as race 7.

Lotsa Mischief, owned by William Matthews, Marvin Fleming, and Filippo Santoro and trained by Dan McFarlane, might have the easier task of the two. That’s because the son of Into Mischief is already proven on turf.

After running third in the Lost in the Fog Juvenile on dirt here Dec. 28, he moved to turf here Feb. 7 and blasted optional claimers by six lengths. He then dueled and drew off to easily win the Turf Paradise Derby by 3 1/2 lengths. Skyler Whiteshield, who was up for those two big wins, keeps the call.

My Rochester, owned by Randy Howg and trained by Robertino Diodoro, beat Lotsa Mischief when winning the Lost in the Fog Juvenile. He then went to Sunland Park and ran second in a dirt sprint stakes before returning here to run third as the 1.10-1 favorite in the Turf Paradise Derby. The son of Sky Mesa will be making his first start on turf. Jorge Carreno rides.

Top of the World could be a danger as he comes off an easy wire-to-wire win over maidens here Feb. 18, his first start on turf and his first action in almost three months. Hail to Jack beat allowance foes on turf here Jan. 24 and was a sharp third, beaten a head, against optional claimers here Feb. 12, when he was claimed. J P Rocker makes his first start on turf and his first start routing off a 7 1/2-length romp over optional claimers in a six-furlong main-track sprint here March 3.

One More Wild Ride, owned by Charles Garvey and Diodoro and trained by Diodoro, was off the board in her three turf starts. In her defense, however, all three came in Southern California and against tougher competition, with two of those starts in stakes. She was fourth in the Blue Norther at Santa Anita on Jan. 1, and a repeat of that effort would surely be enough.

In the Arizona Oaks, she pressed the pace, took over going to the far turn, surged to a clear lead into the lane, and won smartly by 3 1/4 lengths. Carreno retains the mount.

Tom Kha ran fifth on turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 10 and then came here to prove a smart winner on this turf course Feb. 8.

Lazy Daisy May was second on turf here Feb. 7, but it was a noteworthy second, as she was facing males, and the horse who beat her by six lengths was the aforementioned Lotsa Mischief. She then was third behind One More Wild Ride and Idling in the Arizona Oaks.

Idling was second on turf at Canterbury Park at this type of trip last summer. She kept to her task nicely to be second to One More Wild Ride in the Arizona Oaks.