By Joe Quillen
Turf Paradise Race 8 – Hank Mills Sr. Stakes
Merriam’s online dictionary defines a phoenix as a legendary bird which according to one account lived 500 years, burned itself to ashes on a pyre, and rose alive from the ashes to live another period. Today we head to Phoenix as Turf Paradise opened up their delayed meet as they rise from the ashes to revive racing at the Phoenix race track.
The featured race today is race 8 at Turf Paradise, the Hank Mills Sr. Stakes, which is a six furlong stakes race going six furlongs on the main track. A full field of 12 horses are entered for this race that will go off as the final race of the day at 5:56 pm Eastern time.
The 11 Peaceful Waters is the 3/1 morning line favorite for this race. This ridgling goes turf to dirt for today’s race after finishing dead last in a field of 12 in a grade 2 stakes race. It appears the 7 Kingdom Heart (4/1 ML) and the 9 Principe Carlo may be the only horses that could keep up with the favorite on the front end.
The 10 Santos to Wilson (8/1 ML) did have trouble last time out at Del Mar in November, getting bumped at the start of the race and then being steadied. He closed last time out and could be there at the end if a speed duel develops.
The horse on the rail Truth Seeker (#1, 8/1 ML) looks like the best horse that can close into the pace if a speed duel develops. He’s proven his ability to close at Zia Park, the Downs at Albuquerque and Arapahoe Park.
But in the end, the horse that will rise up and win this race will be the 11 Peaceful Waters who I think will have the lead from the start and win going away here. I’ll call this 11-1-10-7 in the Hank Mills Sr. Stakes at Turf Paradise, and my play is $20 to win on the 11. It might be chalky, but sometimes you have to eat chalk every once in a while. Hopefully your tickets don’t turn to ash and you will rise up with me tomorrow for another edition of Quills Picks Winners!
Follow Joe on Twitter/Instagram/Threads @JoeQuills. Check out the Bleacher Brothers Show from 8 to 10 pm Eastern Time on the Tony Bruno Sports Network app! Also check Joe’s sports stream podcast on Twitch every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 pm ET, and his YouTube channel where you can catch the show on demand.
