The upcoming season, however, won't be run under the auspices of the new ownership group that has been reportedly trying to buy the Phoenix track for the last two months.

Instead, Turf Paradise's current owner, Jerry Simms, will still be at the helm.

Simms and Arizona horsemen have had an acrimonious business relationship for the better part of two decades.

But Simms vowed during the Dec. 5 “emergency” AZRC meeting that he will be sticking around for at least the next five months because his deal to sell the track to an entity known as Turf Paradise Land Trust has hit unspecified snags.

The conditions attached to the licensure by the AZRC have to do with Turf Paradise either complying with or getting the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority to waive its requirement that stipulates a 90-day advance notice from any track before the start of racing. In addition, the Authority still has to accredit Turf Paradise in terms of safety standards.

Rudy Casillas, the deputy director of the AZRC's racing division, said that although Simms is still free to try to close on the sale of the track (which has been under consideration by at least two different buyers this year), he explained that it would be “highly unlikely” that the commission would be able to finalize its vetting process of a new licensee before the planned end of the race meet.

“We have not received all of the required information from the potential new buyer as of yet, so I don't believe that there's going to be that type of [due diligence] complication impacting live race meet going forward,” Casillas said.

As for the HISA hurdles, Casillas added, “I cannot speak for HISA. I can't predict what they'll do, if they waive the 90 days. We're hoping that they will…. If they don't waive the 90-day advance notice, then obviously the race meet will have to start at a later time, beyond Jan. 29.”

But Casillas did add that AZRC representatives are speaking with HISA Authority executives who are in the state this week for the Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program in Tucson. Casillas said that in those conversations, “HISA has indicated that they will definitely try to work with the [AZRC] and move this forward.”

Unlike at recent AZRC meetings where their representatives spoke at length about the confusion and chaos of trying to get the sport back on track in Arizona, no one from the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (AZHBPA) testified during Tuesday's meeting.

Simms, however, gave his side of the story, portraying himself as a savior, of sorts.

“I decided to run this meet because it was just too much impact on the stakeholders, too many people's lives being disrupted,” Simms said. “And I was hoping that my deal would have moved ahead, but it's not gone ahead. So I put my retirement on the back burner and decided to do it…

“We're complying with HISA. We hope to have HISA out this week [and] hopefully they won't hold us to that 90-day period of time,” Simms said.

“HISA has their own criteria. And so hopefully they'll give us their approval. I [don't have] any control over that. But I will tell you, with absolute certainty, if this meet is approved and we run the meet, it will finish. Even if the track is sold, whoever buys it will have to finish it or I will finish it.”

Back on Nov. 9, Simms told the AZRC that the ownership group that wants to buy the currently closed Turf Paradise was at the escrow stage of closing on the sale.

Turf Paradise ended its racing season back in May with a different buyer doing due diligence to purchase the property. Then on Aug. 1, Simms announced Turf Paradise wouldn't be opening in November as scheduled for its traditional six-month meet.

On Sept. 18, the months-long purported sale with the first buyer was publicly declared dead.

Then 10 days later, Simms announced a new buyer had suddenly emerged with a desire to purchase the 213-acre property and save racing at the 67-year-old track.

In recent years, disagreements between the Arizona racing community and Simms have roiled in the courts and at racing commission meetings. An extraordinarily long pandemic closure and prolonged fights over off-track betting privileges, simulcast signals, and how the horsemen's purse money can be used have all been topics of heated debate.

Turf Paradise has also been plagued by safety issues in recent seasons, and as recently as the Oct. 12 commission meeting, Simms and AZHBPA officers sparred over whether or not extensive repairs were needed for the main track rail.

But reports made at a subsequent commission meeting Nov. 9 did note progress to the facility's upkeep, such as the turf course well pump being fixed and the grass getting much-needed watering, seeding and fertilizations.

A release posted on social media by Turf Paradise after the commission's vote noted that the track and AZHBPA have signed a contract that calls for Monday-Thursday racing. Horses will be allowed into the stables Dec. 18, with training to start Dec. 26.

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Just how good, exactly? That question will be answered in Keeneland's 'Win and You're In' GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S. on opening day Oct. 7.

“I'm a big believer in horses getting confident when they win,” trainer Jerry O'Dwyer said. “When they back it up, back-to-back like he has, he's walking around there with his chest out and looking and feeling good.”

The Jun H. Park and Delia Nash colorbearer ended a five-race losing skid with a sharp victory over a trio of next-out winners while cutting back to six furlongs in an optional claimer at Saratoga Aug. 10, good for a 100 Beyer, prior to his aforementioned 7 1/2-length romp in Baltimore Sept. 10.

The chestnut gelding also ran well in defeat in his two previous trips to the post while third with first-time blinkers behind subsequent GIII Monmouth Cup winner Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) going a one-turn mile at Belmont May 28 and also filled that same slot behind GISP Baby Yoda (Prospective) in upstate New York going seven furlongs July 16, respectively.

“He's a horse that we've always liked and he's always shown some natural ability,” O'Dwyer said. “I think now being a 4-year-old, he's reaching his peak performance, maturity and strength wise. Mentally, he's in a great place. He couldn't have been any more impressive in his last win at Pimlico. Just the way he jumped out and traveled nicely and opened up in hand. After running a big number in Saratoga the time before, you like to see them back it up to something equivalent. He stepped up again, which is nice.”

The six-furlong Lite the Fuse was Sibelius's first attempt versus stakes company since a trio of disappointing stakes tries last season, including a distant fifth in a sloppy renewal of the rained-off GIII Penn Mile S. in his first go versus winners last May. He was previously a big-figure maiden winner at second asking at Keeneland, site of this year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.

“I think it took him a little while to get his confidence back,” O'Dwyer said. “His works at home were always very good. You could tell he had a lot of ability. I started stretching him out a bit because in the sprint races, he wasn't traveling strongly on the bridle like he is now. Even when we stretched him out, he ran super [finishing second] over the one-turn mile at Aqueduct [Apr. 2].

O'Dwyer continued, “But then his works just started getting so much stronger and sharper. He's been giving us all the right signals. We started gradually cutting him back in distance and he's been showing us that he's just an out-and-out sprinter now. Super fast and sharp.”

With six starts at three and already eight attempts under his belt this season, Sibelius isn't the kind of horse that needs a lot of work in between starts. Currently residing at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Kentucky, Sibelius is slated to join the South Florida-based O'Dwyer's Keeneland string Friday.

Bred in Kentucky by Taylor Brothers Properties LLC, Pollock Farms, Patrick H. Payne, et al, Sibelius brought $100,000 as a KEENOV weanling. He subsequently RNA'd twice–for $62,000 at KEEJAN and for $75,000 at KEESEP. Out of the unraced Pulpit mare Fierey Pulpit, he is a half-brother to MSP Dypsy (Broken Vow), dam of MSW & MGISP Edwards Going Left (Midnight Lute). Sibelius is one of 22 stakes winners for promising young sire Not This Time.

“He's very straightforward,” O'Dwyer said. “He's not a big, robust horse. He looks very muscular and doesn't carry too much excess flesh. He'll get a lot out of his gallops if you let him. So, we keep him under wraps a little bit. He'll just have a blowout on Friday, maybe an easy half mile in :49 or something like that. I'll see how he is over the next couple of days.”

After beginning his career as a jockey in Ireland and England, O'Dwyer came to the U.S. to gallop for trainer Al Stall, Jr. He also worked under trainers Bill Mott, Michael Matz and Andrew McKeever before going out on his own in 2014. Shotski (Blame) became the first graded winner for O'Dwyer with an upset victory in the 2019 GII Remsen S. at Aqueduct.

Should Sibelius earn his way to the Breeders' Cup Sprint via next week's Phoenix, it would be the first starter in the World Championships for O'Dwyer.

“We want to be there on the big days,” O'Dwyer said. “We're fortunate that he's given us a bit of a highlight this year. We're hoping he can continue to do that.”

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Jockey Joel Rosario never panicked when losing the early lead, and kept Special Reserve driving through the finish line to hold off the late charge of Aloha West by a neck. Special Reserve completed six furlongs over the fast main track in 1:08.54, giving trainer Mike Maker his first victory in the Phoenix.

Special Reserve was very quick out of the gate, leading for the first sixteenth of a mile until Quick Tempo rushed up the inside to take command by a length. Quick Tempo led through fractions of :21.90 and :44.69, with Rosario waiting patiently in second on Special Reserve. Just Might was close up in third, while Mucho stayed near the rail in fourth.

Rounding the turn, Rosario allowed Special Reserve to take over and set him down for the stretch run. Just Might went three wide but failed to sustain his bid. Mucho had to wait for racing room as he moved by the tiring Quick Tempo, while Aloha West began to unleash his rally way out in the center of the course.

Special Reserve was kept to task through the wire, and had just enough left to fend off the challenge from Aloha West, winning by a neck at the wire. Mucho checked in third, while Endorsed closed to fill out the superfecta.

Bred in Kentucky by Russell L. Reineman, Special Reserve is out of the Hard Spun mare Love Spun. He commanded $60,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale, and later brought a final bid of $140,000 at the OBS March 2-year-old sale. Special Reserve began his career in the barn of Randy Mores. He required six starts to break his maiden, and ran in the claiming ranks for a tag as low as $25,000.

Maker claimed Special Reserve for $40,000 in February of this year, and the horse has not finished worse than second since. He was second in the G3 Commonwealth at Keeneland in April, then won the G3 Maryland Sprint at Pimlico in July. Next out Special Reserve won the listed Iowa Sprint Stakes on July 3 at Prairie Meadows, and followed up that effort with a second in the G1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga on July 31, beaten just a half-length by Lexitonian.

Overall, Special Reserve's record stands at eight wins from 22 starts, with earnings of $638,647.

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Graduating despite a slow start and early, wide move in his belated debut Feb. 7 at Oaklawn, the 4-year-old was again troubled at the break and ran fifth in an allowance there Mar. 13 before just missing by a nose in a local allowance Apr. 9. Circling the field en route to an easy five-length victory May 22 at Churchill, the $160,000 Keeneland September grad was pinched back early in the Kelly's Landing S. before rallying to get fourth under the Twin Spires June 25. Overcoming a ground-losing journey to gut out a Saratoga allowance/optional claiming success Aug. 1, he backed that up with a powerful score to clear his three-other-than condition with a career-high 102 Beyer last out at the Spa Sept. 2.

Given a slight nod on the morning line is Special Reserve (Midshipman), who has blossomed into an ultra-consistent stakes sprinter since being claimed by Mike Maker. A winner just three times in his first 15 starts for Randy Morse, the gelding was haltered for $40,000 out of a 22-1 upset of an Oaklawn optional claimer Feb. 6 and immediately paid dividends when annexing a similar spot while not being offered for the tag Mar. 13. A good second at 10-1 after setting the pace in the GII Commonwealth S. here Apr. 3, the bay scored back-to-back stakes successes in the GIII Maryland Sprint S. May 15 at Pimlico and Iowa Sprint S. July 3 at Prairie Meadows before proving his top-level bona fides when runner-up in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. July 31 at Saratoga.

The top Beyer and Thoro-Graph figure in the race belongs to Sir Alfred James (Munnings), who breaks from the widest seven-post. Third in the Aristides S. at Churchill May 29, the bay ran second in the Good Lord S. July 17 at Ellis before being dangled for a $62,500 tag by Al Stall in a Louisville optional claimer Sept. 24. Norman and Lola Cash bit, and were certainly glad they did when Sir Alfred James ran away to a 5 3/4-length victory, earning a 103 Beyer and negative-2 Thoro-Graph number.

Griffon Farms and Michelle Lovell's versatile Just Might (Justin Phillip) looks for his fifth consecutive stakes conquest. Off the board in the GII Shakertown S. and GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. on turf this spring, the chestnut annexed the Mighty Beau S. on the Churchill lawn and Da Hoss S. over Colonial turf before switching to dirt and picking up tallies in the Chesapeake S. at Colonial and Louisville Thoroughbred Society S. back at Churchill Sept. 18.

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Scheduled as the eighth race on Friday's 10-race program with a 5:10 p.m. ET post time, the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix is a Breeders' Cup Challenge race with the winner receiving a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) to be run Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Trained by Mike Maker, Special Reserve has compiled a 6-4-2-0 record in 2021 and enters Friday's race off a runner-up effort in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) at Saratoga on July 31. In his lone Keeneland start, Special Reserve was second in this spring's Commonwealth (G3).

Joel Rosario, who was aboard in the Vanderbilt, has the mount Friday out of post position six.

Looming as the main threat to Special Reserve is Griffon Farms and trainer Michelle Lovell's Just Might.

Winner of his past four starts, all coming in stakes, Just Might enters Friday's race off dirt victories at Colonial Downs and most recently at Churchill Downs. Colby Hernandez has the mount from post four.

The field for the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix, with riders and weights from the inside, is:

1. Quick Tempo (Sophie Doyle, 118)
2. Mucho (Reylu Gutierrez, 120)
3. Endorsed (Julien Leparoux, 120)
4. Just Might (Hernandez, 120)
5. Aloha West (Jose Ortiz, 120)
6. Special Reserve (Rosario, 120)
7. Sir Alfred James (Corey Lanerie, 120)

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Aquis' decision is predicated by the fact that Phoenix did not disclose the actions of racing authorities to freeze prize money.

“That conduct of Phoenix has failed to meet our expectations,” a spokesman for Aquis told the AFR. “Any true co-owner should inform their partner of such action by authorities. Phoenix failed to be honest and transparent with us over the prize money freeze, which has rendered the relationship untenable.”

Phoenix reportedly is not permitted to race in France, United Arab Emirates or the United Kingdom. No state racing commissions in the United States have taken regulatory action against Phoenix.

Phoenix continues to be active at U.S. bloodstock sales, including the $1.2 million bid by Phoenix agent Gerard Butler to buy out a partner in stakes winner Lady Apple last November at Fasig-Tipton. Shannon Arvin, president and CEO of Keeneland, released the following statement concerning Phoenix being allowed to participate in sales after court documents filed by a federal prosecutor in a money laundering case involving the multi-billion-dollar OneCoin cryptocurrency scam, accused Abdulaziz of being a money launderer for OneCoin.

“Keeneland is aware of the allegations that may involve Phoenix Thoroughbreds and is monitoring the situation,” said Arvin. “However, it is our understanding that Phoenix Thoroughbred has not been indicted by a grand jury, let alone convicted on any allegations. Keeneland will continue to follow any developments in this matter, and certainly will comply with any regulatory or legal action or direction from a governing authority.”

Since the money laundering accusations were made in federal court against Abdulaziz, it is believed that he has not traveled to the United States from Dubai, where he resides.

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“We have the horses in the stable but we're not able to run them,” trainer Satish Seemar, who trains for Phoenix in Dubai, told Racing Post.

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The meet will run on a five-day a week schedule, Saturday thru Wednesday. Horsemen can arrive Nov. 19 for stall preparations and then bring horses into the stable area Nov. 25. Training will begin Dec. 2.

Following months of negotiations between the AZHBPA and Turf Paradise management, following a March 14 cancellation of the live meet in progress due to the Coronavirus, the two sides were able to craft a 26-point agreement. The forum for on-going discussions between the two sides was provided by Rudy Casillas, the Director for the Division of Racing, the state's regulatory body for the sport.

In a letter penned by Casillas and addressed to Bob Hutton, President of the AZHBPA and Jerry Simms, the owner of Turf Paradise, he said: “Many thanks to both of you for finally reaching terms to allow for the racing industry to move forward. The Licensees and horseracing patrons will be pleased.”

“The AZHBPA is all about live racing,” said Hutton. “The AZHBPA is enthusiastic to help provide the opportunity for horsemen to race close to home and be with their families. Racing close to home will help eliminate unnecessary travel expenses and financial anxiety for our members.”

“We're happy for our horsemen that they're going to be racing,” said Simms. “Unfortunately we still have to deal with Covid-19, and we will. We thank Rudy Casillas for bringing us together and getting this done.”

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Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne, D P Racing and trainer Patrick Biancone's Diamond Oops was scheduled to leave Keeneland this afternoon to return to the Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida, according to assistant trainer Andie Biancone.

“He's just a cool horse,” she said of the 5-year-old Diamond Oops, who became a millionaire with his Friday victory. “My dad was very proud of him yesterday and happy.”

The victory earned Diamond Oops a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). However, Diamond Oops also is accomplished on the grass, having won the TwinSpires Turf Sprint (G2) Presented by Sysco in his previous start.

“My dad will probably flip a coin,” Biancone said of making the decision whether Diamond Oops would be pre-entered in the Sprint or the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) also on Nov. 7.

“Most likely (Diamond Oops) would come back the week of the Breeders' Cup. He loves to travel. He is a lot more confident now, and he enjoys changes in distances and surfaces. Last year was like his 3-year-old year because he only had the one race in 2018.”

Johnny Evans and trainer Terry Eoff's Empire of Gold left Keeneland before 7 a.m. en route to Remington Park.

Dismissed at 51-1 as a 3-year-old making his graded stakes debut, Empire of Gold dueled with Grade 1 winner No Parole through fast fractions, opened a clear advantage in the stretch and was overhauled late by Diamond Oops.

“We knew he was good, but we didn't know just how good,” Eoff said of the result in which Empire of Gold finished in front of three Grade 1 winners. “He beat some pretty good horses.”

The only time Empire of Gold has not finished in the top three was when he was fifth in the Grand Prairie Derby at Lone Star going 1 1/16 miles in June.

“I just had to try him long once,” Eoff said. “His best lick is 5½ to 6½ furlongs.”

Eoff is planning to bring Empire of Gold back here for the $100,000 Perryville for 3-year-olds going 6 furlongs as part of the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup undercard.

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The victory earned Diamond Oops an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Sprint next month, also at Keeneland.

Grade 1 winner No Parole sped out of the starting gate to grab the early lead, while Remington Park invader Empire of Gold moved up to add pressure through early fractions of :22.24 and :44.73. Echo Town and Diamond Oops were just behind the frontrunners early, while veteran Whitmore and Ohio-bred millionaire Mo Don't No tracked in mid-pack.

Rounding the far turn, Empire of Gold grabbed the lead away from No Parole and opened up by several lengths. Diamond Oops took up the chase, but looked to have too much to do with three-sixteenths of a mile to run.

Instead, when Geroux gave the gelding his cue, Diamond Oops dug in gamely and drew even with his rival. Empire of Gold switched to the wrong lead late, trying to find more, but Diamond Oops pushed past to hit the wire three-quarters of a length in front. Empire of Gold had to settle for second, while Echo Town was game late to deny Whitmore for third. Absolutely Aiden was fifth.

Bred in Kentucky by Kin Hui Racing Stables, Diamond Oops is out of the stakes-winning Whywhywhy mare Patriotic Viva. He started showing up in a big way last year, winning the G3 Smile Sprint on dirt before running second in both the G1 Vanderbilt (dirt) and the G1 Shadwell Turf Mile. He was eighth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile before rebounding to win the G3 Mr. Prospector.

This year, Diamond Oops has not finished worse than fourth in four starts, and his overall record stands at 7-3-1 from 16 starts for earnings of over $1 million.

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