Prince Lancelot trying something new in Walter R. Cluer Memorial

PHOENIX – A couple of intimidating Southern California shippers and a couple of locals who adore the Turf Paradise main track are among eight entered in Thursday’s $60,000 Walter R. Cluer Memorial. Named for the track’s founder, the mile race for 4-year-olds and up goes as race 7.

Prince Lancelot, a 6-year-old gelded son of Sir Prancealot owned by David Bernsen, Rockingham Ranch, Weijland Holdings, and Keith Johnson, has been facing some tough customers in Southern California and handling himself well. In his last race on Jan. 5, he finished fifth in a very tough turf sprint at Santa Anita. That said, the gelding, now trained locally by Justin Evans, will be trying a mile for the first time since 2021 and dirt for the first time in his career.

Redline, a 5-year-old gelded son of Texas Red owned by Jeffrey Sangara and trained by Craig Dollase, is coming off a solid third in a high-priced claimer at this distance on Jan. 19 at Santa Anita. He’s won at a mile before.

The main local hopes seem to be Truth Seeker and Tony’s Tapit. Truth Seeker, an 8-year-old gelded son of Into Mischief, won his first five main-track starts here, including last year’s Phoenix Gold Cup. He suffered his first defeat here on dirt Jan. 29, when fourth in the Hank Mills Sr. at six furlongs.

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Owned by Hole-In-One Racing Stables and trained by Rafael Barraza, the Jan. 29 run was his first start in two months. Five of his 13 wins have come going a mile.

Tony’s Tapit, a 6-year-old owned by Kirk Sutherland and trained by Jose Silva Jr., rallied strongly to be second in the Hank Mills Sr. Five of his 13 career wins have come here. He has twice won at a mile.

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