Siberland Heads Turf Paradise Derby Cast

(from track report)
Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr., with more than 9,500 career wins, as well as Siberland, who has aspirations for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), are among the featured attractions at Turf Paradise Saturday.

The $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby, which drew five colts and geldings, including Siberland, is part of a Super Saturday card at the Phoenix track that also includes the $150,000 Turf Paradise Breeders' Cup and $75,000 Arizona Oaks.

The world's all-time winning jockey, Pincay, 56, passed the 9,500 victory barrier at Santa Anita on Wednesday. He is scheduled to ride Force The Way in the 1 1/16-mile Oaks and Century City in the Breeders' Cup, which is on the turf at the same 8 1/2-furlong distance.

The Dennis Weir-owned Siberland, seeking his fourth consecutive stakes score, is the horse to beat in the 1 1/16-mile Derby.

The Panamanian-born Pincay rider will be aboard Force The Way for former Turf Paradise leading trainer Jeff Mullins, who now campaigns in California. In her lone start at Santa Anita, Force The Way rallied from last to miss her maiden victory by a 1 1/4 length. Nine fillies are scheduled to go postward in the Oaks

In the 10-horse Breeders' Cup, Pincay will ride the Beau Greely-trained Century City. A 4-year-old, Century City, is a graded stakes winner in his native Ireland but is winless in three U.S. starts. His best effort was a third place finish in the Bay Meadows Derby (gr. IIIT).

Of the 28 nominated to the local Derby, only four decided to take on the talented Siberland. Trained by Kevin Lewis, the son of Siberian Summer has won his last four starts, three of them stakes races. He is undefeated in two stakes locally. Siberland, ridden by Pincay at Del Mar, will be handled by Glenn Corbett.

"It's like driving a Ferrari," said Corbett, who has ridden Siberland in his two local stakes wins. "He has natural speed and the power to go faster."

Corbett will also ride Julio Canani's two-time Breeders' Cup winner Devine Wind in the Breeders' Cup Handicap.

Pincay won the grass race in 2000 with Foggy Day.

$100,000 Turf Paradise Derby (3:00 p.m. PST), 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 mile

PP Horse, Jockey
1 Robledo, David Flores
2 Aimes Pride, Jose Valdivia, Jr.
3 Kimbereywithaneeh, Esteban Gomez
4 Double Intrigue, Ricardo Jaime
5 Siberland, Glen Corbett
All carry 122 pounds.

$150,000 Turf Paradise Breeders' Cup (3:32 p.m. PST), 3 & up, 1 1/16 mile on turf
PP, Horse, Weight, Jockey
1 Century City, 117, Laffit Pincay, Jr.
2 Thady Quill, 118, Jose Valdivia, Jr.
3 Duke of Green, 116, Seth Martinez
4 Premeditation, 116, Casey Lambert
5 Hataab, 115, David Flores
6 Irish Warrior, 116, G.F. Almelda
7 Devine Wind, 116, Glen Corbett
8 Eagleton, 116, Alberto Higuera
9 Night Patrol, 117, Iggy Puglisi
10 Free Corona, 114, Mike Ziegler

$75,000 Arizona Oaks (4:04 p.m. PST), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 mile
PP, Horse, Jockey
1 Our Game Plan, Kelly Bridges
2 Force The Way, Laffit Pincay, Jr.
3 Bertrando's Dare, Alberto Higuera
4 Myofficewife, Jose Valdivia, Jr.
5 Arch Lady, Seth Martinez
6 Top Penny, Kevin Radke
7A Harbor Blues, Iggy Puglisi
8 Shasta Cat, Mike Ziegler
9A Island Fashion, David Flores
All carry 121 pounds.