Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Bienvenidos kicks off meet
PHOENIX – Turf Paradise lifts the curtain on its 62nd meet Saturday, and in this day of worry over foal-crop sizes and horse population, director of racing Mike Harlow is enthused by the interest in stabling and racing here. He said more than 1,980 horses are already here, filling the bulk of the 2,046 available stalls.
“This has been a record response from horsemen and issuance of stalls,” Harlow said. “In addition to our regulars coming back, we’ve also had an increase of trainers who’ve raced here before and are returning after a few years’ absence, plus an influx of new trainers racing here for the first time.”
The 132-day meet runs through May 6. Racing will be held primarily Saturdays through Wednesdays. There are some special Friday cards due to the Breeders’ Cup, holidays, and next year’s Kentucky Derby. The track offers full-card simulcasting for numerous tracks daily.
The meet’s marquee event, the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup, is slated for Feb. 10. Other highlights include the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile on Jan. 13 and the $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby on Feb. 20.
The top 10 trainers from the last meet all are back, including Robertino Diodoro, who will be seeking his fifth straight title.
A competitive field of 12 goes in the opening-day feature, the $30,000 Bienvenidos at 6 1/2 furlongs. Favoritism may go to Shrewd Move, a five-time winner over this track. The 5-year-old, owned by Yeamans Racing Stables LLC and trained by Dan McFarlane, returns after some good work at Canterbury Park, where he won two stakes in three starts last spring. He returns to dirt after finishing seventh in the Green Flash Handicap on turf Aug. 18 at Del Mar.
Shrewd Move’s competition includes Kaabraaj, the defending race winner who also won the Luke Kruytbosch Stakes here last fall; Madiba, a Southern California invader who has been routing the past couple of years while facing tough company; and Serbian Syclone, a multiple winner in Southern California and Minnesota.
BIENVENIDOS (RACE 8) KEY CONTENDERS
Shrewd Move, by Closing Argument Last 3 Beyers: 80-91-92
◗ He ran fifth in this meet’s marquee event, the Phoenix Gold Cup, last winter.
◗ Signaled his readiness with two bullet works over this track in recent weeks.
Serbian Syclone, by Wildcat Heir Last 3 Beyers: 82-65-67
◗ Came back after nearly four months off to win a sprint at Canterbury on Sept. 8 and posted a bullet work here last weekend.
◗ Used to be a one-dimensional speedball, but as he’s matured, he’s shown that he can track and finish.
Kaabraaj, by Abraaj Last 3 Beyers: 78-79-67
◗ Came into his own here a year ago, easily winning this race in front-running fashion.
◗ After being sidelined for seven months, he came back with four modest outings in California but perked up to finish fourth against some tough claimers Sept. 3 at Del Mar.