The Turf Paradise Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually between early and mid February at Turf Paradise Race Course in Phoenix, Arizona. The race is open to three-year-old horses and is competed over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. It is an ungraded stakes race that is a prep for the Kentucky Derby, although it does not offer Derby qualifying points.[1]
| Ungraded race | |
| Location | Turf Paradise Phoenix, Arizona |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1986 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | turfparadise.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $75,000 |
Inaugurated in 1986, the Turf Paradise Derby was run at a distance of one mile but the following year was modified to its present distance of one and one-sixteenth miles.
Records edit
Speed record:
- 1:41.72 – Startac (2001)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 – Scott Stevens (1993, 2006, 2017)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 5 – Doug Oliver (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 – Alice Mettler (1989, 1990)
- 2 – Allan Burdick (1991, 1992)
- 2 – Arnulf & Rebecca Ueland (1991, 1992)
- 2 – Dennis E. Weir (1996, 1999)
Winners of the Turf Paradise Derby edit
| Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | E J Won The Cup | Armando Ayuso | Doug O’Neil | Superfecta King Stable | 1:43.80 |
| 2023 | American Blaze | Karlo Lopez | Clay Brinson | Terry Hamilton & Murray House | 1:45.54 |
| 2022 | Chrome King | Enrique Garcia | Miguel L. Hernandez | Stable H.M.A. | 1:44.11 |
| 2021 | It's My House | Glenn Corbett | Jamey Thomas | Larry M. Katz | 1:45.05 |
| 2020 | Swagsational | Kassie Gulielmino | Heath Lawrence | Keith Swagerty | 1:46.50 |
| 2019 | Senor Friday | Francisco Arrieta | Robertino Diodoro | Charles Garvey | 1:44.44 |
| 2018 | Primo Touch | Andrew Ramgeet | Dan McFarlane | Dino Bates | 1:44.30 |
| 2017 | Howdy Kingkowboy | Scott Stevens | Molly Pearson | Turner Shiew | 1:43.95 |
| 2016 | Nightly News | David Lopez | Dan McFarlane | Hal J. Earnhardt III | 1:44.86 |
| 2015 | Why Two | Aaron T. Gryder | Michael Machowsky | Kagele Brothers | 1:44.39 |
| 2014 | Lotsa Mischief | Skyler Whiteshield | Dan McFarlane | Filippo Santoro, William Mathews, & Marvin Fleming | 1:45.50 |
| 2013 | Persuasive Paul | Joe Steiner | Doug O'Neill | John Fuller | 1:44.16 |
| 2012 | Taylors Deal | Mario Gutierrez | Sandi Gann | North American Thoroughbred Racing Company | 1:43.82 |
| 2011 | Beer Meister | Glenn Corbett | Manuel Ortiz | William A. Burns, Jim Egger, & Val-U Chem, Inc. | 1:44.99 |
| 2010 | Dixie Commander | Wilson Dieguez | Steven Miyadi | Blue Gate Corp. and Steve Miyadi | 1:45.97 |
| 2009 | Mayor Marv | David Flores | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 1:43.23 |
| 2008 | Nikki’sgoldensteed | Jon Court | Robert Hess Jr. | Matthew Lomas & Gary D. Spenser | 1:42.81 |
| 2007 | Tie Rod | Juan G. Rivera | Joe Johnson | John Pendergast & Joesph E. Johnson | 1:43.91 |
| 2006 | Keagan | Scott Stevens | Scott Kruljac | Gary Olson, Randy Bafus, Gary Stevenson & Eric J. Kruljac | 1:43.90 |
| 2005 | General John B | Jon Court | Roger Stein | Ross McLeod | 1:45.48 |
| 2004 | Mambo Train | Emile Ramsammy | Marcelo Polanco | Everest Stables | 1:42.07 |
| 2003 | Robledo | David Flores | Vladimir Cerin | Push Push Stables | 1:41.74 |
| 2002 | Captain Squire | Chance Rollins | Donald Mills | Jeff Diener & Robert Bone | 1:41.76 |
| 2001 | Startac | Alex Solis | Simon Bray | Allen E Paulson | 1:41.72 |
| 2000 | Gilty Moment | Luis H. Jauregui | Richard Mandella | Diamond A Racing | 1:42.60 |
| 1999 | Eagleton | Isaias Enriquez | Kevin Lewis | Dennis E. Weir | 1:47:80 |
| 1998 | Availability | Garrett Gomez | Walter Greenman | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1:44.20 |
| 1997 | White Hot | Danny Sorenson | Kathy Walsh | Clara Dolan & John F. Duggan | 1:44.40 |
| 1996 | Bombay | Sandi L. Gann | Kevin Lewis | Jim Weir & Dennis E. Weir | 1:44.20 |
| 1995 | Speed Predicted | Jake Barton | Doug Oliver | Karen Underwood & Wayne Underwood | 1:43.40 |
| 1994 | Screaming Don | Joey Castro | Lanny Sharp | Tom Said, Don Heim & Lanny Sharp | 1:42.00 |
| 1993 | Smokin Albert | Scott Stevens | Zenon Lipowicz | Phon Sutton | 1:42.60 |
| 1992 | Wavering Scene | Tim Masters | Doug Oliver | Allen Burdick, Arnulf Ueland & Rebbeca Ueland | 1:48.40 |
| 1991 | Honor the Hero | Tim Masters | Doug Oliver | Allen Burdick, Arnulf Ueland & Rebbeca Ueland | 1:44.80 |
| 1990 | Axe Age | Alfredo Guerrero | Doug Oliver | Alice Mettler | 1:42.60 |
| 1989 | Stalixis | Alfredo Guerrero | Doug Oliver | Alice Mettler | 1:44.60 |
| 1988 | Art's Angel | Darrel McHargue | Neil French | Robert Walker & Bonnie Walker | 1:44.20 |
| 1987 | Three Phase | Carl Kutz | Bart Hone | Sky Hi Stable | 1:43.60 |
| 1986 | Chuck N Luck | Kenneth Hare | Creed Botts | Donald Baldwin | 1:36.40 |
References edit
- ^ "2022/23 Kentucky Derby Prep Races". kentuckyderby.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.