America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - Is this connection possible

6:10am (6549) ELP → PHX 6:34am

7:10am (297) PHX → SJC 9:10am

It's only a 40 minute layover in PHX, and with my luck I will be on complete opposite terminals

Should I take the sure way

6:10am (6549) ELP → PHX 6:34am

10:05am (293) PHX → SJC 11:57 am

Or should I go with the first one in hopes that I will be able to catch the early flight, otherwise just grab the later flight.

I been burned with flights connecting in PHX before, so I am hesitant to do this.

Any ideas?

Worse that happens is you walk quickly from A to B or vice versa. If you misconnect HP will protect you on the later flight and there is a cool art gallery in terminal 4 :D

^ Minimum connect time in PHX is 20 minutes. You are arriving on HPX and probably into the low B gates (B1-B8 or something around there). You should have no problem making that connection. Since the flights are early in the day, delays should not exist!
Good luck!