Turf Paradise: Rockin On tops Sun Devil

PHOENIX - Rockin On faces two major hurdles in Saturday's $40,000 Sun Devil, a one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. The Sun Devil is Rockin On's first start around two turns, and she faces two swift Southern California invaders in a field of 10.

Rockin On took on winners here in her debut Nov. 17, and did well to run third to stakes-caliber It'slonelyatthetop. She followed that up with big wins in the Arizona Breeders Futurity and the Valid Leader, beating many of her Saturday foes in both outings. Regular rider Glen Corbett again will ride her for trainer Kory Owens.

Two Southern Californians figure to make life tough for Rockin On. Very Vegas, who may go favored for trainer Terry Knight, has loads of speed. She won a starter allowance at Bay Meadows by six lengths Oct. 16, then stretched her speed to a mile to win the Bay Meadows Lassie. She opened up a big lead and wilted in the Grade 3 Miesque on the turf at Hollywood Park, but has been freshened since and should appreciate the move back to dirt. Very Vegas landed top local rider Miguel Ruis.

Coke's Melody invades for trainer Eric Kruljac. She hasn't run since finishing a distant third in the Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita

Nov. 8. The winner of that race, House of Fortune, has since finished third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet, and the runner-up, Silent Sighs, returned and won the California Breeders Championship, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 105.

Coke's Melody won her maiden at Santa Anita at a mile. Hoogie Drexler has the call Saturday.

If Rockin On can't hold up the Arizona end of the bargain, Fun'ngames Toknite might. Trained by Kruljac, Fun'ngames Toknite beat many of these in a maiden sprint win Oct. 28 here and again in an allowance tally here Nov. 17. She was brought back against the boys in the Arizona Juvenile Dec. 20 and was third. This marks her first route attempt, but she's shown enough versatility to indicate she can get the trip.

Scott Stevens keeps the mount on Fun'ngames Toknite, who has posted two bullet works since her last race.