Challenge


Specials Gold Looks to Defend Turf Paradise Championship Challenge Title on Sunday
Gilberto Jasso’s Specials Gold will head the $70,740 Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge (G3) final at Turf Paradise on Sunday.

© Coady Photography
Specials Gold Looks to Defend Turf Paradise Championship Challenge Title on Sunday

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

PHOENIX, AZ—APRIL 23, 2015—Gilberto Jasso’s Specials Gold, the fastest qualifier, drew post 7 for Sunday’s $70,740 Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge (G3) final at Turf Paradise.

The 440-yard Bank of America Championship Challenge is one of three Challenge finals to be contested on Sunday. The others are the 350-yard, $31,680 John Deere Turf Paradise Juvenile Challenge, and the 870-yard, $22,140 Zoetis Turf Paradise Distance Challenge. The winners of these three stakes will earn berths in the Bank of America Challenge Championships later this fall.

Specials Gold is a 6-year-old gelding by Voghts Gold trained by Heraclio Botello. He is coming off of a 2014 campaign in which he earned $54,496 from five outs, and his three wins included a three-quarter length victory in the October 4 Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge.

Alejandro Luna will ride Specials Gold on Sunday.

The complete lineup, in post-position order including jockey assignments--

  1. French Fury (Rodolfo Arvizu)
  2. Eyesa Famous Eagle (Jarell James)
  3. Carters Dare (Alex Bautista)
  4. Jess Secrets BR (Manuel Gutierrez)
  5. Joe Legacy (Uriel Dominguez)
  6. Featuresonora (Emilio Tapia)
  7. Specials Gold (Alejandro Luna)
  8. Fal Vegas (Ronald Richard)
  9. Block N Tackle (J. Martin Bourdieu)
  10. First Storm Tide (Carlos W. Marquez).

John Deere Turf Paradise Juvenile Challenge

Also on Sunday, a full field of 10 2-year-olds has been entered back in the John Deere Turf Paradise Juvenile Challenge.

Fastest qualifier Favorite Reach made his debut with a 1 3/4-length victory in the last of three trials on April 12. The Favorite Cartel filly drew post 6 and will be ridden by Rodolfo Arvizu for owner Peter Barana and trainer Guillermo Morales.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments--

  1. Seis Me (Rick Oliver)
  2. Paintthisroyalwagon (Esgar Ramirez)
  3. Royal Famous Fly (Jarell James)
  4. Jess Call Me Fancy (Don L. French)
  5. KR Cruisin Cartel (J. Martin Bourdieu)
  6. Favorite Reach (Rodolfo Arvizu)
  7. The Big Wagon (Alex Bautista)
  8. YN Shagouti (David Reyes-Frisby)
  9. JM Splenda (Vince Guerra)
  10. Faster Than Jack (Emilio Tapia)
Zoetis Turf Paradise Distance Challenge

All Guns Firing, a Grade 1 finalist in California last season, will make his first start at the 870-yard distance in Sunday’s Zoetis Turf Paradise Distance Challenge.

All Guns Firing is a 4-year-old son of champion FDD Dynasty racing for Lex A. Fabrizio from the barn of trainer Cody Joiner. The gelding will be making his first start since December 21, when he ran fifth, two lengths behind winner Quirky, in the 400-yard, $146,000 Southern California Derby (G1) at Los Alamitos.

Alejandro Luna has been named to ride All Guns Firing from post 3.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments--

  1. Red Hot Niko (Israel Hernandez)
  2. Look Me In The Eyes (Michael Iammarino)
  3. All Guns Firing (Alejandro Luna)
  4. Mickey Ward (J. Martin Bourdieu)
  5. War Khal (Ronald Richard)
  6. Follow The Dream (Alex Bautista)
  7. Creole Williams (Vince Guerra)
  8. Jess Perfect Miracle (Daniel Vergara)
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All Turf Paradise races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.