Turf horses in spotlight in Walter Cluer Memorial and Queen of the Green
PHOENIX – French Getaway is hoping a change of venue can get him back on track in Friday’s $27,500 Walter R. Cluer Memorial at Turf Paradise, while Mongolian Lotus is hoping a change of footing won’t take away from her superb recent form in the $30,000 Queen of the Green at the Phoenix track.
Both races are at a mile on the turf. The Cluer, named for the track’s founder, drew a field of seven 3-year-olds and up and goes as race 6. The Queen of the Green matches seven fillies and mares and goes as race 9 to close out the card.
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French Getaway, an 8-year-old gelded son of Giant’s Causeway owned by Schroeder Farms LLC and trained by Bob Hess Jr., has spent the majority of his time in Southern California where he did some good work on turf. He hasn’t won since taking a $32,000 claimer at Santa Anita a year ago, and comes here off a third vs. $25,000 claimers there Jan. 31. Luis Negron rides.
Rivals include Articulator, smashing winner of the Luke Kruytbosch on dirt here Jan. 28 but off the board in his only turf start; We’re Just Sayin, third in an allowance race on this course Feb. 10; Patriot Drive, who invades from the East Coast and has stakes credentials; and Arizona Moon, second in the Kruytbosch, third in this race last year (though that was washed off the turf), and who has posted four of his seven wins on this turf course.
Mongolian Lotus, owned by Stable HMA and trained by Justin Evans, comes into the Queen of the Green having won five of her last six. That includes an 8 1/4-length win in the Phoenix Stakes on dirt here Jan. 29.
This marks the first turf start for the 5-year-old daughter of Graydar, but if she transfers her dirt form to this footing she’ll be formidable. Isaias Enriquez rides.
Her opposition includes Smart Set, winner of her only two turf starts and going back to grass after finishing sixth in a dirt allowance route here Feb. 2; Sure Angel, second to Mongolian Lotus in the Phoenix but back to turf, which may be her best game as three of her four wins have come on grass; and Princess of Cairo, eight in her only turf try - but that came vs. some toughies in Southern California - and winner of an allowance on dirt here Feb. 2.