PHOENIX, AZ—NOVEMBER 30, 2019—Desert Scorpion held off Heza Steady Shot by a nose Saturday to post the top qualifying time from two trials contested at Turf Paradise for the Turf Paradise Maiden Stake (not black type).

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to the Phoenix, Arizona raceway on Sunday, December 15th to vie for the winner's share of a $5,000-added purse going 350 yards.

Ridden by jockey Hizain Camacho, 4-year-old Desert Scorpion, completed the 350 yards in :17.836 seconds, equaling a 92 speed index to set the top qualifying mark. It was the first win in eight career starts for the altered son of multiple stakes sire Righter.

Trainer Pedro Soto conditions the bay gelding for owner Guadalupe Ramos. Bred in Arizona by Juan Martin Zavala Aguero, Desert Scorpion has compiled an (8) 1-2-3 record and banked $5,821. He is out of the Fly Jess Fly mare Chase This Fly.

The aforementioned Heza Steady Shot hung on for the second fastest clocking of :17.837 seconds, also a 92 speed index. The 6-year-old horse broke out under jockey Kevin Carbajal but managed to finish second for trainer Leonard A Espinoza.

Roberto Baeza owns the son of champion sire Heza Motor Scooter from the Dashing Cleat mare Brays Somekinda Lady. The lightly raced horse was bred in Arizona by Cesar Romero and was making only third career start in the trials.

Trainer Matthew Fales saddled Nochebonita to a half-length win in the second trial to get the fourth fastest clocking of :18.003 seconds. The 3-year-old daughter of multiple stake sire Texas Icon is an Arizona homebred racing for owner-breeder John Sanchez.

Out of the Dashin Bye mare, Dashin Firmly, Nochebonita was making her first start of the year. Last season she was once third in four starts at 2.

For a complete list of Turf Paradise Maiden Stake qualifiers, their times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.