While the margin of victory was just a neck over fast-closing Beat the Heat, Fortified Effort got home first in the $52,368 ATBA Fall Sales Stakes Colts and Geldings division at Turf Paradise on Dec. 28, rewarding his backers who had bet him down to 1-20 in the four-horse field.
Leading from the start, the 4-year-old Ez Effort gelding dueled with fellow Kevin Eikleberry trainee Loud N Proud through the early stages of the race, as Beat the Heat trailed the field by a lengthy margin. Entering the stretch, Fortified Effort dispensed with Loud N Proud only to have Beat the Heat bear down on him late.
The final time for the “about” six and a half-furlong distance was 1:15.60.
Bred by Fleming Thoroughbred Farm, Fortified Effort runs for the group of J. Lloyd Yother, William Matthews, Marvin Fleming and trainer Eikleberry.
Posted January 3rd, 2020
Arizona-bred youngsters swept the Lost in the Fog Juvenile and Arizona Juvenile Fillies Stakes, run Dec. 28 at Turf Paradise. Avenging a loss to Annie’s Boy in the colts and geldings division of the Arizona Breeders’ Futurity earlier in the month, Arizona Jeremy reeled in the pacesetting Annie’s Boy to draw off by two lengths, […]
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Posted January 3rd, 2020
Victory by Iron Bell at Turf Paradise on Nov. 17 marked the 1000th career win for trainer Jonathan Nance. As of Nov. 22, Equibase shows Nance with 5,222 lifetime starts and a record of 1,000-867-762 and earnings of $5,862,544. His highest-earning runner to date is McKenzie Honey, winner of the ATBA Spring Sales Stakes and […]
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Posted November 22nd, 2019
The 2019 ATBA Fall Yearling and Mixed Sale will be held Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, at Horseshoe Park Equestrian Centre. The sale begins at 2pm. Horseshoe Park Equestrian Centre 20464 East Riggs Road Queen Creek AZ 85142
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Posted November 6th, 2019
Services for Yvonne Kunz will be held at 11 am on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building at 325 W. Coral Gables Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85023. In 1992, Mrs. Kunz was made Editor of the Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders Association (ATBA) magazine and then became the Executive Director […]
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Posted October 7th, 2019
Who’s the Diva Now turned in a front-running romp in her career debut to win the $25,300 Las Vegas Ranch S. for Arizona-bred 2-year-olds at Arizona Downs on Sept. 1. At 17-1, she was the most lightly regarded of a field largely composed of first-time starters, but the Lotsa Mischief filly opened up a commanding […]
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Posted September 15th, 2019
After silence since 2010, horse racing returned to the Prescott area on Memorial Day weekend as Arizona Downs – formerly known as Yavapai Downs and acquired in 2018 by J & J Equine Enterprises – opened its 2019 meet. The four-day weekend featured nine Arizona-bred winners, including Yo Y Me, winner of the $20,000 Inaugural […]
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Posted May 28th, 2019
Coming from last of a six-horse field, Todo Es Toro swept by his rivals in the Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby to win with authority, cruising away to a two and three-quarter-length victory over race favorite Bold Flame in the defining moment of a stakes-filled card at Turf Paradise on April 20. Highlight of Arizona Breeders’ […]
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Posted May 3rd, 2019