Bet on the Turf Paradise Derby
Inaugurated in 1986, the Turf Paradise Derby is restricted to three year-olds and held annually each February at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona. The race has been run at the 1 1/16-mile distance since 1987 and was run for a purse of $75,000 in 2015. Once considered a Kentucky Derby prep, The Turf Paradise Derby is ungraded and has not been included as part of the official point qualifying system used by Churchill Downs.
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Playing the Turf Paradise Derby Odds
The betting public had it right when they made Why Two the heavy favorite for the 2015 Turf Paradise, as that one came home a one-length winner. With 6-1 Ride Hard Kowboy running second, the payouts on straight wagers and exotics wasn't very high, but horseplayers who bet through the Bovada racebook added to those numbers with gauranteed cash back on all of their bets, whether they held winning tickets or not.
2016 Turf Paradise Derby Contenders
In 2015, Why Two was sent to post at the prohibitive odds of 3/10 despite having just a maiden win to his credit and drawing the far outside post against a field of eight. Why Two broke a step slow, but quickly found himself on the lead entering the first turn under jockey Aaron Gryder. The heavy favorite maintained the lead down the backstretch, but looked to be in deep water entering the far turn as 30/1 longshot Our Brothers B.A. pulled even and Why Two struggled to find more. In the stretch, however, Gryder managed to cut the corner and save just enough to regain a one length advantage with Our Brothers B.A. flattening out with every stride. Ride Hard Kowboy picked up the chase late, but couldn’t get closer than a length to Why Two at the wire.
2015 Order of Finish: Win Place Show
1st: American Pharoah $2.60 $2.20 $2.10
2nd: Ride Hard Kowboy $3.60 $2.80
3rd: Our Brothers B.A. $4.20
(Also Ran: Highway Boss, Grand Full Moon, Best Asset, Permit To Carry, General Dixie)
Check back closer to race day for the 2016 Turf Paradise Derby contenders!
Did you know?
Startac holds the speed record in the Turf Paradise Derby, stopping the timer in 1:41.72 in 2001. Startac was trained by current TVG analyst Simon Brey. The colt went on to run tenth in the Kentucky Derby, but won the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington Park. Trainer Doug Oliver holds the record for wins by a conditioner with four straight victories from 1989-1992, while adding a fifth win in 2001 with the well-regarded Captain Squire. Captain Squire, later trained by Jeff Mullins, went on to a successful career as sprinter winning the 2002 Grade 2 Laz Barrera and Sunshine Millions Sprint while also shipping to Dubai for a respectable third-place finish in the Golden Shaheen against top international competition.