PHOENIX, Ariz. (Mar. 6, 2022) – Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Minister of Soul, who has finished first, second and third in earlier editions, leads a quartet of California-breds entered in Friday’s $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise.
Mr Paytience is by Paynter, out of the Yes It’s True mare Kantstopdancin, was bred by Ballena Vista Farm, is owned by Stable H.M.A. and is trained by Bart Hone. He has five wins in 20 starts, earnings of $171,608 and is coming off a win in a Feb. 17 optional claimer. He was fourth in this race last year.
Minister of Soul is by Ministers Wild Cat, out of the Bernstein mare Sensitive Soul, was bred by Dahlberg Farms and is owned by trainer Esteban Martinez. The $16,000 purchase at the Northern California Yearling Sale has 13 wins in 37 starts, earnings of $362,931 and is coming off a Jan. 19 optional claiming win. He was third in this race last year, second in 2020 and won the race in 2019.
Stakes-placed Darnquick is by Run Brother Ron, out of the Forest Camp mare Darncat, was bred by Clifford Plum, is owned by Casey Plum and trained by Gary Rogers. He has six wins in 23 starts, earnings of $173,799 and is coming off a Mar. 2 allowance win.
Multiple stakes winner Tiger Dad is by Smiling Tiger, out of the Unusual Heat mare Q T Shea, was bred by Mark Devereaux, Scott Gross & Mark Gross, is owned by Rosette Racing and trained by Robertino Diodoro. He has six wins in 24 starts, earnings of $373,355 and is coming off a fourth in the Feb. 11 Turf Paradise Turf Stakes.