Both Brookys Star and Power Corrupt turned in powerful performances to win their respective stakes, the $30,000 Queen of the Green and $30,000 Walter Cluer Memorial Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
Queen of the Green
Favored Brookys Star ($7.00), who had been campaigning with success at six different race tracks, seized the lead after a quarter mile under Leslie Mawing, and held nine filly and mare rivals at bay, to win the Queen by 1 ¼ lengths over a fast-closing Hip Ninety Three, who won this race the previous two years. Comet Sixty Two held third after pressing the winner for much of the race.
 
Owned by Jethorse LLLC and trained by Sandi Gann, the 4-year-old Brookys Star, a daughter of Giant’s Causeway, covered the one mile over firm turf in 1:36.27. The win was Brookys Star’s third win in 20 stars, and boosted her career earnings to $104,556.
 
Walter Cluer
Although listed at 8-1 in the morning line, bettors who witnessed Power Corrupt’s grass debut a week prior, decided that victory was no fluke and sent the 4-year-old Storm Victory gelding off at 5-2.
 
Jockey Sahin Civaci followed the game plan of the previous victory, rating Power Corrupt ($7.00) off of Hobbit’s Hero quick splits of :22.14 and :45.66 before unleashing a bust of speed that resulted in a 6 ¾ length victory over Leadem In Ken with the veteran and previous year’s winner Aventador third in the field of 12 colts and geldings. The favored Hobbits Hero, making his first start in 190 days, tired to finish last.
 
Owned by Mitch Sutherland and trained by Jim Brown, Power Corrupt, who was purchased privately for $4,000 and was coming off a seven-day rest between scores, was winning for the ninth times in 25 efforts, covered the one mile (turf) in 1:34.31. The $17,298 in stakes earnings boosted Power Corrupt’s career bankroll to $141,205.

Both the girls and boys will take center stage on the greensward in the $30,000 Queen of the Green and $30,000 Walter Cluer Stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
In addition to the races Thanksgiving weekend will feature a free sweatshirt give-a-way Saturday and a celebration of Hispanic food and music with Fiesta Sunday.
 
The Queen of the Green drew a field of 11 fillies and mares and the Walter Cluer attracted a full field of 12 colts and geldings. Both races will be run at one mile on the turf course.
 
Queen of the Green
The winner of this race the last two years, Hip Ninety Three, will be trying for the hat trick with regular rider Andrew Ramgeet aboard. However, this year’s Queen came up tougher than previous editions.
 
Cleverly Beverly, to be ridden by leading grass course ace Glenn Corbett, won a comeback prep for this race Oct. 23 at the stakes distance and surface. The 7-year-old mare has been either first (8 times) or second (6) in 20 starts over the local green.
 
Comet Sixty Two, with a leading bankroll of $217,388, has been facing tougher at Belmont Park and Del Mar. The 6-year-old mare is now in the hands of Dan McFarlane, the leading trainer with turf wins.
 
Brookys Star tired late to finish second in the recent Princess of Palms Stakes for trainer Sandi Gann. Gann, who made the switch from jockey to trainer, and is the only female rider to win Turf’s Leading Rider’s title in 1992, before suffering a career-ending injury.
 
Peppy Miler finished third in a Nov. 3rd comeback $40,000 optional claiming race. A confirmed closer, Peppy Miller stormed from dead last to win the Jan. 17th Glendale Handicap.
 
Tequila Mary shifted from turfing at Golden Gate to local trainer Debbie O’Brien barn. She finished fourth in her local debut Oct. 23rd. The 4-year-old filly is by the Irish miler Aragora.
 
Detail, who won a $35,000 claiming race last year at Saratoga, has won two mid-level claiming race locally at the mile distance in the turf.
 
Walter Cluer Memorial
Like the Queen, the Cluer is loaded with talent. And also a few question marks. Like who’s going to have the lead? Hobbits Hero, a seven-time turf winner at the distance? Power Corrupt, who showed he can lead or track the pace, given his recent allowance turf win? Success Rate, a sprinter stretching out? Leadem Ken, who took an allowance field wire to wire on the grass Oct, 22nd?
The complexion of the race is the handicapping challenge. If a speed horse gets loose on the lead and sets modest fractions, the outcome will be X. If multiple horses contest the lead, the outcome will be Y. The closers, like Thetrailguy, Don’t Hold Me Back and Lord Vancouver will be in play depending on whether the race is run to an X or Y scenario.
 
The Cluer, named after Turf’s founder, is highly competitive. But it’s like a treasure that will only yield its bounty if you have the right key.

Both the girls and boys will take center stage on the greensward in the $30,000 Queen of the Green and $30,000 Walter Cluer Stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
In addition to the races Thanksgiving weekend will feature a free sweatshirt give-a-way Saturday and a celebration of Hispanic food and music with Fiesta Sunday.
 
The Queen of the Green drew a field of 11 fillies and mares and the Walter Cluer attracted a full field of 12 colts and geldings. Both races will be run at one mile on the turf course.
 
Queen of the Green
The winner of this race the last two years, Hip Ninety Three, will be trying for the hat trick with regular rider Andrew Ramgeet aboard. However, this year’s Queen came up tougher than previous editions.
 
Cleverly Beverly, to be ridden by leading grass course ace Glenn Corbett, won a comeback prep for this race Oct. 23 at the stakes distance and surface. The 7-year-old mare has been either first (8 times) or second (6) in 20 starts over the local green.
 
Comet Sixty Two, with a leading bankroll of $217,388, has been facing tougher at Belmont Park and Del Mar. The 6-year-old mare is now in the hands of Dan McFarlane, the leading trainer with turf wins.
 
Brookys Star tired late to finish second in the recent Princess of Palms Stakes for trainer Sandi Gann. Gann, who made the switch from jockey to trainer, and is the only female rider to win Turf’s Leading Rider’s title in 1992, before suffering a career-ending injury.
 
Peppy Miler finished third in a Nov. 3rd comeback $40,000 optional claiming race. A confirmed closer, Peppy Miller stormed from dead last to win the Jan. 17th Glendale Handicap.
 
Tequila Mary shifted from turfing at Golden Gate to local trainer Debbie O’Brien barn. She finished fourth in her local debut Oct. 23rd. The 4-year-old filly is by the Irish miler Aragora.
 
Detail, who won a $35,000 claiming race last year at Saratoga, has won two mid-level claiming race locally at the mile distance in the turf.
 
Walter Cluer Memorial
Like the Queen, the Cluer is loaded with talent. And also a few question marks. Like who’s going to have the lead? Hobbits Hero, a seven-time turf winner at the distance? Power Corrupt, who showed he can lead or track the pace, given his recent allowance turf win? Success Rate, a sprinter stretching out? Leadem Ken, who took an allowance field wire to wire on the grass Oct, 22nd?
The complexion of the race is the handicapping challenge. If a speed horse gets loose on the lead and sets modest fractions, the outcome will be X. If multiple horses contest the lead, the outcome will be Y. The closers, like Thetrailguy, Don’t Hold Me Back and Lord Vancouver will be in play depending on whether the race is run to an X or Y scenario.
 
The Cluer, named after Turf’s founder, is highly competitive. But it’s like a treasure that will only yield its bounty if you have the right key.

Both Fight to Glory and Kaabraaj made every pole winning ones in capturing their respective races, the $30,000 City of Phoenix and $30,000 Luke Kruytbosch stakes, Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
The City of Phoenix
Ridden confidently by Andrew Ramgeet, 4-5 favorite Fight to Glory ($3.80) sped to the lead she never relinquished as BCZ Middleton stayed within striking distance but came up a length short of the winner, the same position she finished in this race last year. Listo finished third in the field of seven fillies and mares.
 
Owned by Charles Garvey of Alberta, Canada and conditioned by leading trainer Robertino Diodoro, the 3-year-old Fight to Glory, redeeming herself after finishing third to BCZ Middleton in the Princess of Palms Stakes, raced the 6-furlongs in 1:09.70 for her fourth victory in nine starts. Fight to Glory now has earnings of $71,462.
 
The Luke Kruytbosch
Meanwhile, Kaabraaj ($9.80) followed the same catch-me-if-you-can strategy he employed in winning the Luke Kruytbosch last year. Handling several challengers from the get-go, Scott Stevens kept Kaabraaj focused on the prize and pulled away in the final sixteenth of a mile for a 2 ¼ length victory over Keller’s Gold with Leadem in Ken third in the field of nine colts and geldings. The favored Shrewd Move tired to finish fifth.
 
Owned by Warlock Stables and Horseplayers Racing Club and trained by Jeff Metz (also trainer of BCZ Middleton), Kaabraaj raced the 6-furlongs in 1:09.25 for his seventh win in 26 efforts. With the victory, the 5-year-old Kaabraaj raised his career earnings to $160,421.

Sprinters will be in the spotlight in the $30,000 City of Phoenix and $30,000 Luke Kruytbosch stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise Race Course.
 
The City of Phoenix, for fillies and mares, drew seven entrants while the Kruytbosch, for colts and geldings, attracted a field of nine. Both races are for 3-year-olds and up and each will be run at 6 furlongs. Post time for the first of eight races is 12:55 pm.
 
The City of Phoenix
BCZ Middleton who won the Oct. 21 Princess of Palms, will seek to better last year’s runner-up finish in this race.  Trained by Jeff Metz, the 4-year-old daughter of Nobiz Like Shobiz. has won three of four races locally and boasts an impressive 12 of 14 in the money finishes. BCZ Middleton will be seeking her third consecutive stakes win.
 
Fight to Glory, third in the Princess of Palms, is sure to improve off that race, her first start back following a three month layoff. The 3-year-old daughter of American Lion has won two of three starts this year.
 
Three of the seven entrants – Erratic Storm, Sierrita and Protective Shield – are coming off extended layoffs.
 
The Luke Kruytbosch
Named after the Turf Paradise and Churchill Downs’ announcer, the Luke Kruytbosch lured last year’s winner, Kaabraaj, into a mix of proven locals with established records and newcomers making their first starts at the Phoenix oval.
 
Of the veterans: Storm Power, third in the race last year, has three wins locally; Shrewd Move, winner of opening day’s Bienvenidos, is a six-time winner.
 
The first timers consist of Blue Law, a mid-level claiming competitor; the 3-year-old Candy for Three, winner of three of eight races at Emerald Downs and Keller’s Gold, also a 3-year-old, winner of six of 14 efforts, primarily at Emerald and Portland Meadows.