Wicked Winnings should relish switch back to dirt in Turf Paradise Derby

PHOENIX – It’s that time of year. The 3-year-old division is the sexy division, and Turf Paradise takes its turn Saturday as Wicked Winnings looks to bounce back against eight 3-year-olds in the $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby at 1 1/16 miles, which goes as the finale of an eight-race card.

Three-year-old fillies also get their shot in the spotlight as a field of seven goes in the $30,000 Arizona Oaks at a mile (race 5).

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Wicked Winnings, a 3-year-old gelded son of Dialed In owned by Tim Bankers and trained by Manuel Ortiz, posted two romping main-track wins here in December as the light seemed to go on. That sent him into the Startac at about 7 1/2 furlongs on turf here Jan. 25 as the 1-2 favorite, but after setting the early pace he gave way to finish fourth, beaten 11 3/4 lengths by Swagsational, whom he faces again here. Returning to dirt may get him back on track.

Swagsational cruised home 8 1/2 lengths clear in the Startac. Owned by Keith Swagerty and trained by Heath Lawrence, he shouldn’t be bothered by Saturday’s return to dirt as he previously whipped maidens by more than five lengths on this main track Jan. 7.

Race Home, a gelded son of Race Day from the same owner and trainer as Wicked Winnings, won his first two starts at Emerald Downs last summer, including romping in that track’s premier event for juveniles, the Gottstein Futurity, at this same trip. After three months off, he resurfaced here in the Lost in the Fog Juvenile at about 6 1/2 furlongs and ran on decently for second. With that under his belt and this move to a longer trip he can be dangerous.

Arizona Jeremy, a gelded son of Ez Effort owned by Stable HMA and trained by Molly Pearson, won the Lost in the Fog before finishing third in the Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park on Jan. 26. The Allison was his first route, so this distance is a question.

◗ The Adrie Factor may be the one to beat in the Arizona Oaks, but there’s a question about the footing. The 3-year-old daughter of The Factor, owned by Harley Kowalsky and trained by Jonathan Wong, has won three of her last four, but two of those wins came on turf and the other on Golden Gate’s synthetic track. She ran fourth and fifth in her only two dirt starts. Those also were her first two career starts last July, and she’s certainly a better filly now.

Catchacougar, a winner of three of four last summer in the Northwest but who hasn’t run in almost six months, and Our Magic Moment, a romping winner on dirt here Dec. 2 before finishing a well-beaten fourth to The Adrie Factor in a turf stakes here Jan. 25, loom main rivals.