Two Arizona-bred stakes spice up Turf Paradise card
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Arizona-bred sprinters take center stage Friday at Turf Paradise as eight older males knock heads in the $30,000 Cactus Wren while five older fillies and mares are entered in the $30,000 Cactus Flower. Both races are at 6 1/2 furlongs. The Cactus Wren goes as race 8; the Cactus Flower as race 3.
Cactus Wren
Fortified Effort and Annie’s Boy put on a good battle in the ATBA Fall Sales Stakes here Feb. 12 as they dueled from the start with Fortified Effort prevailing by 1 1/2 lengths under Francisco Garcia. Garcia keeps the call on the 6-year-old gelded son of Ez Effort for owners J. Lloyd Yother, William Matthews, Marvin Fleming, and Kevin Eikleberry. Fortified Effort is trained by Eikleberry.
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Annie’s Boy, a 4-year-old gelded son of Lotsa Mischief, was the 4-5 favorite in that Feb. 12 meeting, where he dueled in side of Fortified Effort before succumbing late to end up second. This time he’s drawn well outside his main rival. Annie's Boy is owned Michael Feigenbaum and trained Rafael Barraza. Daniel Vergara is aboard again.
Two the Punch is a new face for owner-trainer Jose Silva Jr. as the 8-year-old gelded son of Top Hit moves into stakes ranks off a powerful $8,000 claiming win here Feb. 22. Ramblin’ Man, a 6-year-old gelded son of Uh Oh Bango owned by Kevin Owens and trained by Kory Owens, was a romping winner of this last year. He whipped allowance foes here Jan. 7 but dueled and gave way badly in the one-mile Luke Kruytbosch here Jan. 28. Maybe returning to sprinting and state-bred ranks can get him back on track. Glenn Corbett rides.
Cactus Flower
Shoe Game may be the one to beat in the Cactus Flower as the 7-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor steps up in class having won three of her last four, her last win coming here Jan. 28 in demonstrative fashion as she romped by 7 1/4 lengths for owner John McCullough and trainer Manuel Ortiz. She has to deal with multiple stakes winner Arizona Sun, who was just second in a stakes here Feb. 12 for owner Randy Howg and trainer Robertino Diodoro, and Burnadebt, who steps up off an easy allowance win here Mar. 2 for owner-trainer Kory Owens.