Challenge


Champion Imperial Eagle Headlines Turf Paradise Challenge Trials
Champion and All American Futurity(G1) winner Imperial Eagle wil head two trials for the Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge on Saturday.

© Coady Photography
Champion Imperial Eagle Headlines Turf Paradise Challenge Trials

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

PHOENIX, AZ—APRIL 6, 2018—Fifteen aged runners, headed by champion Imperial Eagle, have been entered in Saturday’s 440-yard Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge trials at Turf Paradise.

A 4-year-old son of One Famous Eagle, Imperial Eagle is trained by Tony Sedillo for owner Christina D. Robinson. The gelding will make his first-ever start at Turf Paradise off of a neck victory as the 2-1 favorite in the March 10, 400-yard West Texas Maturity (G3) at Sunland Park.

Imperial Eagle drew post 6 and will be ridden by J. Martin Bourdieu in the second of two trials. His seven opponents in the second heat include Rogelio Carbajal Santos’ Dauns FirstDesirio, a 4-year-old Desirio gelding trained by Eliazar Salas. Dauns First Desirio will be stretching out in distance off of his third-place finish in the 350-yard, $50,000 Eastex Stakes (G2) at Remington Park on March 9.

Dauns First Desirio drew post 5 and will be ridden by Rodolfo Arvizu.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Sunday’s trials will meet in the April 29, $55,000-added Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge final.

All Turf Paradise races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.