PHOENIX, AZ—JANUARY 6, 2022—Racing for the first time this year, Cartels Courage got his first career win Thursday at Turf Paradise when he rolled to a half-length win over Bh Free Drop Billy to post the fastest qualifying time for the Turf Paradise Maiden Stake.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from three trials contested over 330 yards today, will return to Turf Paradise on Thursday, January 27th to vie for the winner's share of a $30,000-added purse.

Cartels Courage broke on top, in the last of three trials under jockey Jacob Enriquez, then held sway as he completed the 330 yards in :16.693 seconds, equaling a 108 speed index into a 5 mph crosswind. It the first win in nine career starts for the son of multiple stakes sire Coronado Cartel.

Trainer Jesus Carrete trains the 3-year-old for owner Hector O'Campo. Last season Cartels Courage placed in four of eight starts and he has banked $19,553. Flagg Ranch LLC bred the gelding in Oklahoma from the Captain Courage mare Tinys Courage.

Bh Free Drop Billy, a royally-bred son of multiple stakes sire Bodacious Dash racing for owner Jose Aguilar Mendoza, held on to the second fastest clocking of :16.753 seconds, a 106 speed index.

Trainer Eloy Navarro named jockey Mark Jasso to ride the stakes-placed gelding. Bh Free Drop Billy entered the trials off a third-place finish in the last month's AQRA-Turf Paradise Open QH Futurity. Placed in five of nine starts, he has earned $14,752.

Bred in Oregon by Bill Hoburg, from the Snowbound (TB) mare Apollo Snowbound, Bh Free Drop Billy is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Bh Lisas Boy ($963,053).

Texassizedbizooms, under jockey Luis Valenzuela, was a head winner in the second trial to get the fifth fastest time of :16.887, a 102 speed index. It was the first win for the Tony Sedillo owned-and-trained daughter of leading sire Mr Jess Perry from the Shazoom mare Big Bizooms. Kirk Goodfellow is the breeder.

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

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With more than 50 off-track-bettting locations across Arizona and Turf Paradise able to be wagered on many platforms across the country, Turf Paradise will be increasing its social media presence and interaction with fans on their Facebook page and Twitter account. (@turf_paradise). The track's Grand Canyon Pick-6 jackpot wager will begin with a pool of $28,009.06, which will be carried over from the end of the 2019-20 season.