Horse Racing
Tribesman Upsets Idiot Proof in Phoenix Gold Cup
By
Feb 22, 2008, 09:45

After setting blazing fast fractions, Tribesman, just kept on going when challenged by heavily favored Idiot Proof to win the $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup Saturday at Turf Paradise.

Ridden by Chad Schvaneveldt for trainer Roger Hansen, the northern California shipper, Tribesman ($8.80, sizzled the first half mile in :43.17 and was 1 ¾ lengths clear of 4-5 favorite Idiot Proof and David Flores at the wire, stopping the teletimer in 1:07.80 for the 6 furlongs.

Sailors Sunset, with Chris Landeros aboard, rallied strongly to fall a head shy of Idiot Proof, giving California-based horses a sweep of the top three spots in the field of nine older horses.

“This horse is naturally fast and was running easy with his ears pricked for the first half mile,” said Schvaneveldt, of Tribesman who was winning his fifth consecutive race. “When I called on him in the stretch, he took off again.”

Flores asked Idiot Proof for his best at the head of the lane, but the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up was unable to close the gap.

“The other horse (Tribesman) was too good today,” said Flores. “I was expecting him to come back to us but he just kept on going.”

Trained by Clifford Sise, Jr., Idiot Proof was using the Phoenix Gold Cup as a stepping stone to the $2 million Golden Shaheen Sprint in Dubai on March 29.
“We just got outrun today,” said Sise. “As far as Dubai…well, I’ll have to talk to the owners (Pam & Martin Wygod).”

Landeros, Turf’s 19-year-old leading rider, came back to power Billy Allen (Ire) to a half-length victory over Prorunner in the $75,000 Turf Paradise Handicap. Willow O Wisp finished third in the field of ten.

Trained by Keith Bennett, world traveler Billy Allen ($8.00), who won the Russian Triple Crown before coming to America, covered the 1 1/16 mile over turf rated good in 1:42.59.

“This horse is all heart,” said Landeros.

Alonso Quinonez guided the Vladimir Cerin-trained Fleet Caroline ($8.00) to a wire-to-wire victory in the $50,000 Sun City Handicap. Along Came Jones finished second with Fortunate Event third in the field of eight fillies and mares. The winner covered the one mile over good turf in 1:37.05.

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