Stars come out for turf doubleheader
PHOENIX – Many of the best local turf horses of both sexes will be on display Saturday at Turf Paradise in the $35,000 Walter R. Cluer for 3-year-olds and up and the $35,000 Queen of the Green for fillies and mares. Both races are at a mile on turf, with the Cluer having drawn a field of 11 and the Queen of the Green eight.
The edge in the Walter Cluer might go to the California raider Rock Me Baby. He’s just 1 for 5 this year, and that win was a turf sprint at Golden Gate Fields on June 13, but he’s been facing some graded stakes types in Southern and Northern California and last summer was second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Handicap.
The Cluer, named for the track’s founder, also includes He’s Very Rare, a winner of two straight, including an optional claimer at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf here Nov. 2 over a number of Saturday’s foes; Az Ridge, last season’s Horse of the Meet who may appreciate returning home after fading to 10th last out in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs; Ride Hard Kowboy, a 4 3/4-length winner of the Jeff and Jack Coady Sr. on this course and at this trip Nov. 7; and Red Zeus, a six-time winner on this course who comes off an easy win here Nov. 15.
In the Queen of the Green, My Blue Sky looks to back up her impressive win Nov. 7 here in the Chandler Stakes at this trip. Her main opposition figures to come from Enlightened, a winner of three of her last four and coming off a win on this course and at this trip Nov. 3, and Aware, whose speed should have her prominent from the start. Those two have traded decisions in their last two starts.
KEY CONTENDERS
WALTER CLUER (RACE 7)
Rock Me Baby (Last 3 Beyers: 82-74-85)
◗ Was sixth on grass at Golden Gate in his last start, but the winner of that race, Alert Bay, is a Grade 2 winner.
◗ Must overcome the outside post.
◗ Had enough class in 2014 to be second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile and fourth in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile, both on grass and at this distance.
Az Ridge (Last 3 Beyers: 73-90-93)
◗ Ran fourth in this race last year.
◗ He won three straight turf stakes last meet.
◗ He has worked strongly for this, including a bullet six furlongs in 1:11 here Nov. 22.
Red Zeus (Last 3 Beyers: 92-80-66)
◗ Finished third in this race last year.
◗ Six of his seven grass wins have come on this course.
He’s Very Rare (Last 3 Beyers: 86-77-77)
◗ Has speed, so he can utilize the rail and be in the thick of it from the start.
QUEEN OF THE GREEN (RACE 3)
My Blue Sky (Last 3 Beyers: 74-53-73)
◗ Has speed and versatility.
◗ Her win in the Chandler here was a nice bounce-back after a 10th in a distance stakes at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 19.
Enlightened (Last 3 Beyers: 80-75-81)
◗ Has won three of her last four and beat Aware by more than a length in her last race.
◗ Seven of her 10 turf wins have come at or near this distance.
Aware (Last 3 Beyers: 77-77-73)
◗ She has nine top-three finishes in her last 12 starts.
◗ Defeated Enlightened two starts back.