Turf Paradise: Mambo Man looks to score for new connections in Wildcat Handicap

Trainer Robertino Diodoro will be looking for an immediate return on his investment when he sends out recent $40,000 claim Mambo Man in Saturday’s $35,000 Wildcat Handicap at Turf Paradise. The 1 3/8-mile grass race drew a field of nine.

Also on Saturday’s card is the $35,000 Arizona Stallion Stakes. The 7 1/2-furlong turf race is for 3-year-olds conceived by a nominated stallion standing in Arizona. It drew a field of seven, headed by the filly Idling.

Mambo Man had already done good work in Southern California but appears to have found his game this year. He rallied well for second going 1 1/2 miles on the Santa Anita turf for then-trainer Julio Canani on Feb. 14. He came back in a 1 1/4-mile optional claimer there March 21, bided his time in third, and powered home to win going away by 3 1/4 lengths. He was claimed that day by Diodoro, likely with this race in mind. His only other win against winners came at this same 1 3/8-mile distance. Geovanni Franco rides Mambo Man, the 122-pound co-highweight.

Also tabbed at 122 pounds is the very sharp 5-year-old Tones. Once able to compete against graded stakes company, Tones has flourished at Turf Paradise in recent months, winning three of his last five. He romped by 4 1/2 lengths Nov. 11 and by 6 1/4 lengths Dec. 3. Tones was then a good fourth in the Cotton Fitzsimmons on Jan. 18, beaten just a length by Fire With Fire, who came back to win the Grade 2 San Luis Rey at Santa Anita recently, before easily winning on this course Feb. 1.

Tones comes off a sharp second, beaten a nose, on March 18. This is a new ballgame, however, in terms of distance.

Seamark steps up for Diodoro after winning his first two starts on this course recently, both in wire-to-wire fashion. Flexiplus was a sharp second in this race last year, though his form in recent months hasn’t been nearly as sharp.

Filly challenges males

Idling, co-owned and trained by Don Schnell, might be favored in the Arizona Stallion Stakes despite being a filly facing males. She was second in the Arizona Oaks on dirt locally Feb. 2 before finishing a game third, beaten just a head, in the Scottsdale Handicap against 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf March 14.

Saturnino is a maiden but finished third in his only two turf starts, both on this course, including the Tempe Handicap last time out, March 15. G Faikir finished first on this course at this trip Jan. 29 only to be disqualified and placed second. He returns to turf after running fourth in the Turf Paradise Derby. Deadly Black Eagle was third in his only turf start Feb. 7, when well beaten by Lotsa Mischief, the top 3-year-old male on the grounds. He tries turf again after fading to eighth in the Turf Paradise Derby.