Pair of turf stakes present handicapping puzzle

PHOENIX – They don’t come much more competitive than the twin features Saturday at Turf Paradise – the $60,000 Walter R. Cluer Memorial and $60,000 Glendale. Both races are at 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass.

The Cluer (race 8), for 3-year-olds and up and named for the track’s founder, drew 12, including two also-eligibles, while the Glendale (race 6), for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, drew a field of 10.

Stitzy, a 6-year-old gelded son of grass champion English Channel, may rate the nod in the Cluer. Owned by Fifth Street Stables and Mark McCleave and trained by Jose Silva Jr., Stitzy comes here sharp. He led all the way to win a stakes Sept. 10 at Canterbury, then dueled before finishing third in a tough allowance race here Nov. 8. While he has speed, he’s no need-the-lead type.

Tartini, an 8-year-old gelded son of Giant’s Causeway owned by Stable HMA and trained by Miguel Hernandez, ran second ahead of Stitzy in that Nov. 8 race. That was his first try on this course, so he’s eligible to improve. He spent much of his career holding his own on the Southern California circuit.

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Other contenders include My Indy, a five-time winner on this course; Papa’s Golden Boy, a multiple stakes winner on dirt but only fourth in his lone turf start; Tiger Dad, a multiple stakes winner on dirt here and a two-time winner on turf; and Sonny Smack, on the also-eligible list but coming off some good work on the Canterbury turf this spring/summer.

The Glendale is likewise a difficult puzzle. Ropers N Wranglers, owned and trained by Richard Rennie, did some good work on turf this summer and has run well on this course as well. The 3-year-old filly gave way badly Oct. 15 on the on Santa Anita turf after going too fast early up front, but she rebounded to be a sharp second in a race washed off the turf here Nov. 9.

Loopy, a 5-year-old mare owned by Tijuana Racing Stables and trained by Juan Pablo Silva, has big speed and figures to be in the thick of it from the start. She returns from Mountaineer, where she posted two turf wins this spring/summer. She’s no stranger to these parts, either, having won four times on this course.

Other contenders include Blazingbellablu, a multiple stakes winner on dirt with one second in two turf tries; Strike At Dawn, an invader from Northern California who ran well versus some tough customers there; La Castiglione, winner of her only turf start; and Tiz a Macho Girl, winner of the washed-off-the-turf race here Nov. 9 but off the board in four turf tries.

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