PHOENIX, Ariz. (Mar. 5, 2023) – Former winners of the race Minister of Soul and Tiger Dad and fellow California-breds Jazz Hands and Mr. Stang are entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise.
Minister of Soul is by Minister Wild Cat, out of the Bernstein mare Sensitive Soul, was bred by Dahlberg Farms and is owned by trainer Esteban Martinez. A $16,000 purchase at the Northern California Yearling Sale, he has 16 wins in 51 starts, earnings of $503,242 and is coming off a second in a Feb. 18 optional claimer. This is his fifth start in the race, having finished fifth race last year, third in 2021, second in 2020 and first in 2019.
Defending champion 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 Ranch and trained by Robertino Diodoro. He has seven wins in 34 starts, earnings of $465,452 and is coming off a second in a Jan. 28 optional claimer.
Jazz Hands is by Square Eddie, out of the Russian Courage mare Nicole and Ben, was bred by Reddam Racing, is owned by Kirk Sutherland and trained by Juan Silva. He has four wins in 19 starts, earnings of $136,900 and is coming off a win in a Feb. 28 optional claimer.
Mr. Stang is by Atta Boy Roy, out of the Private Gold mare Special Holiday, was bred by Melvin and Lori Mellick and is owned by trainer Frank Lucarelli and Roy Schaefer. He has six wins in 15 starts, earnings of $126,605 and is coming off a fourth in a Feb. 18 optional claimer.