Three newly minted Arizona-bred champions of 2017 went to post on Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders’ Festival day at Turf Paradise on April 21, and each returned a winner in their respective events.

Fortified Effort, champion Arizona-bred 2-year-old male of 2017, bounced back from a unplaced outing in the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby to win the Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby. The Ez Effort gelding held Zippy Groom at bay to win the mile and a sixteenth event in 1:45.83 for a consortium of owners that includes J. Lloyd Yother, recipient of the 2017 Julep Cup. Fleming Thoroughbred Farm bred the winner.

Foggia, champion Arizona-bred 2-year-old filly of last year, was the 1-5 favorite in the Joanne Dye Breeders’ Oaks. The daughter of Rocky Bar was seeking her first victory since the ATBA Sales Stakes last November, but won as much the best, dispensing with rival Myrcella and going on to win by four and a quarter lengths in 1:30.27 for seven and a half furlongs on the turf. Filippo Santoro bred the filly, who runs for Sawyer Cattle Company.

Champion Arizona-bred older female Bar Scene took on open company in the Lyman and Bradley Rollins Handicap at six furlongs and after pulling away from odds-on Royal Privacy on the turn, held on to win by a length over late-running Jilas Miracle. Triple AAA Ranch bred and owns the Rocky Bar mare, who was timed in 1:09.64.

Sierrita, another mare tackling males, won the Dwight D. Patterson Handicap by a half-length over Silvanus, traveling a mile and a sixteenth on the turf in 1:42.66. A Triple AAA Ranch-bred daughter of Top Hit, Sierrita runs for Seven Arms Stable.