Turf Paradise hosted the $10,000 Captain Hook Stakes on Saturday's race card.

© Coady Photography

PHOENIX, AZ— NOVEMBER 18, 2017—Given the annual Leonid meteor showers this weekend, it was only fitting that Just Meteor won the first race on Saturday’s card at Turf Paradise, the $10,000 Captain Hook Stakes (not black type).

Jorge Bourdieu guided Just Meteor ($3.60) along the outside from the seventh post as the post-time favorite. The pair swung wide but pulled clear in the stretch to win by 2 ¼ lengths. Final time for the 870-yard race was 46.001.

Just Meteor is a Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred owned by Thomas Metzger, Sr. and is trained by Justin Evans. The son of Forestry was bred by Wertheimer et Frere out of the Twining mare Meteor Miracle.

The 9-year-old gelding is an 870-yard specialist, now with 11 wins in 18 starts at the distance and over $70,000 in earnings in hook races. He is also 6 for 9 at Turf Paradise.

Finishing second was one of only three Quarter Horses in the race, Kismet, piloted by Justine Klaiber. The 4-year-old gelding was making his second start at Turf Paradise after shipping over from the Paul Jones barn at Los Alamitos. Now trained by Alex Torres-Casas for owner Jesus Torres-Casas, Kismet closed from sixth to finish a neck in front of third place finisher Boston Charley.

Kismet was bred in California by John Andreini, by Favorite Cartel, out of Make a Run, by Calyx. Two of Kismet’s three lifetime wins have come around the turn, and he is now six for 10 in the money at 870 yards.

Boston Charley, another Thoroughbred in the field, chased for the lead before being caught by fast-moving Kismet at the wire.

Boston Charley was last seen in a three-furlong race at Remington Park, though his last win came sprinting on the turf at Canterbury earlier this summer. This was his first attempt in an 870-yard race and his second time hitting the board at Turf Paradise.

Ridden by Israel Hernandez, the 6-year-old gelding is trained by Patrick Fields for owner Henry Paravecino. Gerald Redman bred the son of Rocky Bar in California, out of the Iz a Saros mare Iza Bon Bon.

Completing the field were Awaken Hope, Sky T, Never Tap Out, Handsome Roy and Eye Sea Cash.