Robledo Overcomes Trouble to Beat Siberland

Boxed in for much of the way, Push Push Stable's Robledo, with jockey David Flores showing the way, was able to get outside of 3-10 favorite Siberland and win the duel to the wire in Saturday's $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby in Phoenix.

Robledo took the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds by 3/4 length in a time of 1:41.74. Double Intrigue was third, 17 3/4 lengths behind Siberland in the five-horse field.

Robledo, a Kentucky-bred son of Robannier who is trained by Vladimer Cerin, was vanned off after pulling up soon after the start of his last race, the Santa Catalina (gr. II) at Santa Anita on Jan. 18. He'd had two strong works since then, however, including a bullet five-furlong drill at Santa Anita Jan. 28.

Fourth behind front-running Siberland after a half-mile, Robledo was able to get off the rail on the turn for home. He dueled in close quarters with the favorite through the stretch and began to inch clear in the final sixteenth.

Robledo won his third race in six lifetime starts while nearly doubling his earnings so far to $120,720.

The winner, sent off as the 2-1 second choice, paid $6, $2.20 and $2.10. Siberland, who was seeking his fifth consecutive victory, a streak that included a pair of Arizona stakes wins in his most recent efforts, returned $2.10 and $2.10. Double Intrigue's show price was $2.10.

(Chart, Equibase)