3-year-olds gets tested in turf stakes

PHOENIX – At this time of year, much of the focus hones in on the 3-year-olds, though primarily on dirt. There’s the grass question to ponder as well and two grass stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise will attempt to sort out the local sophomores on the turf.

The $60,000 Startac (race 8) at 7 1/2 furlongs on grass is intriguing as it provides a rematch of the top four from a good allowance turf route here last month, plus Arizona Andrew, beaten just once in six starts but trying grass and two turns for the first time. In all, a field of nine colts and geldings are entered. The $60,000 Princess of Palms (race 6), for 3-year-old fillies also at 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass, pits eight including Una Palabra, a smashing maiden winner on this course Jan. 25.

Arizona Andrew, a son of Lotsa Mischief owned by Stables HMA and trained by Kevin Eikleberry, has been dynamite so far, winning five of six, all dirt sprints, including four stakes. He ran second in the Arizona Breeders’ Futurity here Dec. 10 but came back to easily win the ATBA 3-year-old Sales Stakes here Jan. 28. As noted, the Startac marks his first try on grass and at this longer trip, but he’s bred top and bottom for it.

I Am Freaky Fast, My Man Biggie, Big Creed, and Public Opinion were the first four under the wire in a nice allowance on this course at this type of trip Jan. 26 and there’s not a lot between them. Loudmouthsoup tries grass for the first time after running third to Once in a Vermillion, maybe the best 3-year-old dirt male in the Southwest, in the 6 1/2-furlong Lost in the Fog Juvenile here Dec. 21 and then in the Riley Allison Derby at a mile at Sunland Park Jan. 29.

◗ Una Palabra may be the one to beat in the Princess of Palms. The daughter of McCraken owned by Coal Creek Farm and trained by Vann Belvoir was a sharp second to Countess of Cairo, whom she faces again here, in her Dec. 15 debut at a mile on this course. She then romped over maidens in her second start, again on this course at a mile, Jan. 25. Countess of Cairo, a daughter of Cairo Prince owned by Barbara Nielson Swenson and trained by David Van Winkle, is back in against fillies after finishing fifth in that Jan. 26 allowance race from which the top four males go in the Startac.

Don’t Get Pickled is dangerous as well, as the daughter of Misremembered won her only turf start, which came on this course at this trip Nov. 25, and comes here off two good dirt sprints including a second in a stakes here last time out Jan. 28.