Ride Hard Kowboy wins Walter R. Cluer Memorial Stakes

PHOENIX – Ride Hard Kowboy just missed by a neck when second in last year’s Walter R. Cluer at Turf Paradise. Well, the 4-year-old gelded son of Kodiak Kowboy remedied that slight miss as he rallied to capture this year’s $30,000 renewal at the Phoenix track Saturday.

Owned by Turner Shiew and Robert Morgan and trained by Molly Pearson, Ride Hard Kowboy ($5.20) stalked in fourth under Scott Stevens as the 8-5 favorite in the one-mile turf event, remained there to the top of the lane, came with his run once straightened away, and finished gamely to edge the strong-rallying Charlie Again by a neck. A stubborn Aventador was just another neck back in third in the field of 12.

Ride Hard Kowboy ran the distance in 1:35, and the winner’s share of $17,298 gives him earnings of $155,711 from six wins in 20 starts.

Hip Ninety Nine wins Queen of the Green

When Hip Ninety Nine won last year’s Queen of the Green, she did so at 22-1. She was no such price this time (sent off at 5-2) and needed some help from the stewards, but the result was still a successful defense of her title in Saturday’s $30,000 renewal.

Owned by Brent Stapley, Linden Hatch, and Delwyn Ellis and trained by F.C. Frazier, Hip Ninety Three ($7.60) was well back early in the one-mile grass event for distaffers under Andrew Ramgeet, came with a strong run in the lane, had to steady and was carried out when then-leader Ronda Rocks bore out into her path, and finishing second, beaten a neck.

After a stewards’ inquiry, Ronda Rocks was disqualified for bearing out and placed second, elevating Hip Ninety Three to the win. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to Eyesadreamin in third. French Alps, the 5-2 favorite, raced in midpack throughout, finishing sixth in the field of 11 distaffers,

The final time was 1:35.31, and the winner’s share of $17,484 gives Hip Ninety Three earnings of $113,483 from six wins in 22 starts.