Two the Punch tops six-horse field for Gene Fleming Derby
Arizona-breds will be in the spotlight Saturday at Turf Paradise, where all nine races, including five stakes events, are restricted to statebreds on Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders’ Day. Total purses will be $184,000, with $150,000 offered in stakes, including the $50,000 Gene Fleming Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.
The field of six in the Gene Fleming Derby features two stakes winners and two stakes-placed runners. Two the Punch, a Top Hit gelding trained by Kory Owens, is the 6-5 morning-line favorite. He was the beaten favorite in his lone start here last December, losing by half a length to Coolidge in the six-furlong Arizona Breeders’ Futurity.
Two the Punch hit the board in four of six Southern California starts, winning his maiden in a $50,000 claimer at Santa Anita on Feb. 25. He stalked for six furlongs before stopping badly in his lone start against winners March 24.
The lightly raced Hey Ez Money has two wins and a third in three starts, including a victory in the 7 1/2-furlong Arizona Stallion on turf April 2 in his first start in eight months. He won his debut at Emerald Downs last year and then ran third in an allowance race before going to the sidelines. He has a nice 58.60-second, five-furlong bullet work since his victory.
Canadian stakes winner Heber and Waste It Wisely, third behind Hey Ez Money in his last start, are also entered.
Old rivals Heidi’s in Charge and Lieutenant Margie meet for the fourth time in their young careers in the $25,000 Joanne Dye, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies.
The 4-5 morning-line choice, Heidi’s in Charge is making her 2016 debut but put together a three-race win streak late last year, including victories over Lieutenant Margie and Lady Tam, another of her rivals Saturday, in both the ATBA Sales Stakes and the Arizona Breeders’ Futurity.
Lieutenant Margie, the 8-5 second choice, is making her third start of the year and just finished second as the favorite to Hey Ez Money in the Arizona Stallion after being bothered badly in the lane.
Red Zeus won last year’s $25,000 Dwight D. Patterson Handicap by a nose at 1-10 and is back to defend his crown. He has a pair of interesting rivals this year, including Silvanus, who was third in last year’s race but comes into this year’s 1 1/16-mile turf test with five straight wins while moving up the claiming ladder.
The one to beat, though, seems to be 3-5 morning-line favorite Rocked Twice, who has won two straight stakes here, including the Turf Paradise Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf Feb. 13.
Jamaican Memories, who scored a $23.80 upset with a game closing run in the Phoenix Gold Cup, will be looking for a repeat in the $25,000 Lyman and Bradley Rollins Handicap at six furlongs. The even-money choice will be meeting old rival JP Rocker, who was just claimed by trainer J.J. Kruljac for $20,000 when second in his last start after setting the pace.
The most competitive stakes of the day could be the $25,000 Ann Owens Distaff Handicap at six furlongs.
Myrna Lou, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, was second in the Joanne Dye last year. She won three straight claimers to start 2016 before being claimed and running fourth in an allowance heat last time.
Lazy Daisy May, who has earned $157,721 with six wins while hitting the board in 16 of 18 starts here, figures to offer value as she steps up. Camille, third in this race last year, also could offer value in her third start of the year. She’s 4 for 19 locally.