Twin turf stakes highlight Saturday card

PHOENIX – Grass is the theme of the day at Turf Paradise on Saturday, as a pair of one-mile events on turf highlight the card. The $35,000 Queen of the Green, for fillies and mares, attracted a field of eight, headed by recent local winner Ricspretentiousgal and two-time local dirt stakes winner Maker Or Breaker. The $35,000 Walter R. Cluer, for 3-year-olds and up, drew a field of 10, headed by local star Storm Power and Del Mar invader Number Five.

Favoritism in the Queen of the Green may fall to Ricspretentiousgal. Owned by Charles Garvey and trained by Robertino Diodoro, Ricspretentiousgal comes off a win over this course at this distance Oct. 19. That was her first start in seven months, so she can improve.

Enlightened and Quinichette also merit respect, having run second and third behind Ricspretentiousgal in that Oct. 19 race, beaten a half-length and one length.

Another danger comes in the form of Maker Or Breaker. A daughter of Empire Maker trained by Dan McFarlane, she ran 10th in her only turf try, but that was in a tough stakes at Del Mar in July 2013. She comes off two strong dirt-sprint wins here, the Princess of Palms and Phoenix Stakes, and she will try to take that form to turf at this longer trip.

Walter R. Cluer

Storm Power, owned by Mercedes Stables LLC and trained by Diodoro, comes off a romping win in the Bienvenidos, a dirt sprint here Oct. 18. This marks his first turf try, but he’s handled synthetic well and was a smart second in his only prior route.

Number Five invades from Southern California, where he posted three turf wins, including a victory for $50,000 at Santa Anita on Oct. 16. He was claimed that day by trainer Carl O’Callaghan and next ran second in the Let It Ride on the Del Mar turf Nov. 8.

Broadway Empire, also trained by Diodoro, was fourth in his only turf start, a stakes at Remington on Sept. 28. He dueled for the lead and faded late. A multiple Grade 3 winner, he ran ninth in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and was sixth in this year’s Grade 1 Met Mile.

QUEEN OF THE GREEN (RACE 4)

KEY CONTENDERS

RICSPRETENTIOUSGAL (Last 3 Beyers: 81-75-74)

◗ She is 2 for 3 on this course.

◗ She’s won from well off the pace, from just off the pace, and on the front end.

ENLIGHTENED (Last 3 Beyers: 80-81-59)

◗ She is 3 for 7 on this course.

◗ She is eligible to improve because she is coming off her first start in three months.

◗ She figures to bide her time early and come running in the lane.

MAKER OR BREAKER (Last 3 Beyers: 86-91-72)

◗ She pressed the pace in her only turf start.

◗ She has multiple wins at this distance on dirt.

WALTER CLUER (RACE 7)

KEY CONTENDERS

STORM POWER (Last 3 Beyers: 88-74-83)

◗ With Tiznow as his grandsire, he is certainly eligible to like the turf.

◗ He ran second in his only prior route, which came on Del Mar’s synthetic track in August 2013.

◗ He has had two five-furlong bullet works since his Bienvenidos win, going in 58.40 seconds Nov. 12 and Nov. 20.

BROADWAY EMPIRE (Last 3 Beyers: 82-85-99)

◗ He is bred to handle turf, being by crack grass sire Empire Maker.

NUMBER FIVE (Last 3 Beyers: 85-85-81)

◗ He was claimed for $50,000 when he won on turf at Santa Anita at this distance Oct. 16, and the runner-up that day, Tosheen, came right back to win.

◗ Stalked the pace in the Let It Ride and took the lead into the lane before finishing second.