Yo Y Me has Beyer edge in ATBA Fall Sales Stakes

PHOENIX – Yo Y Me showed talent from the beginning, but he put it all together in career start No. 5, romping by 7 1/2 lengths and stamping himself as the heavy favorite for Saturday’s colts-and-geldings division of the $35,000 ATBA Fall Sales Stakes at Turf Paradise. McKenzie Honey brings stakes experience to the fillies’ division and likely will be a heavy favorite.

Both races are for 2-year-olds who qualified for the ATBA fall sales and are at six furlongs. The fillies’ division drew a field of seven and goes as race 4, and the males’ division lured 11 and goes as the final race on the card, race 9.

Yo Y Me, a son of Dixie Chatter owned by Kevin Eikleberry and William Matthews and trained by Eikleberry, ran second in his first two starts, both here in the spring, including the ATBA Spring Sales Stakes. He then went to Emerald Downs and ran second to The Chilli Man, who won by 11 1/2 lengths. Yo Y Me ran into another toughie there Aug. 21, finishing third to Ask Not, beaten 7 1/4 lengths.

Off for two months, Yo Y Me returned here in a maiden race Oct. 17. He dueled for the lead early in that five-furlong event and drew off for the easy win, earning easily this field’s top Beyer Speed Figure, a 77. Ry Eikleberry rides Yo Y Me on Saturday.

His main opposition figures to come from a trio of runners from the Molly Pearson barn. Howdy Kingkowboy ran second at Del Mar on Aug. 17 before coming here to easily beat maidens Oct. 17 with a 69 Beyer. Sedona Sunrise ran second in his only start, beaten by Yo Y Me. French General beat Yo Y Me when they debuted here April 19 but was then no factor in the ATBA Spring Sales Stakes before going to Del Mar and being overmatched in a couple of outings. He’s been off since Sept. 3 and has been working well.

◗ McKenzie Honey, owned by Barbara Eikin, Steve Smith, and Jonathan Nance and trained by Nance, is among just two winners in the fillies’ division. She won her first two starts, both at Turf Paradise, including the ATBA Spring Sales Stakes on May 8. She was then third in a stakes at Arapahoe on July 30 and fourth in a stakes against males there Aug. 14.

A daughter of Parading, McKenzie Honey went to Zia Park and ran third in another stakes Oct. 10 before returning here. Jorge Bourdieu rides her on Saturday.

Top Hat Wildcat, trained by Dan McFarlane, ran eighth at Canterbury Park in her debut July 24 before beating maidens there Aug. 27.