Gato Guapo delivered a popular victory in the $30,000 Walter Cluer Handicap and Chance to Shine got the nod in a photo to win the $30,000 Queen of the Green Stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
Originally scheduled for the turf course, but due to previous days’ rains, both races were run at one mile on the main track.
 
Sent off as the favorite, the Charles Garvey-owned Gato Guapo ($4.40) stopped the teletimers at every point of call as he sped to a 2 ½ length victory over Morse Code with Arizona Moon third in the field of nine colts and geldings. Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Gato Guapo covered the one mile in 1:36.27.
 
The Queen of the Green was decidedly more dramatic, with eventual winner Chance to Shine ($7.20) edging out Twirling Devon by a neck after a prolonged stretch duel with Senoradiablo third in the field of nine fillies and mares.
 
Owned by Peggy Thompson, Chance to Shine covered the one mile in 1:37.64 for trainer Dan McFarlane.

Grass horses will be in the spotlight in the $30,000 Walter Cluer Memorial and $30,000 Queen of the Green Stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise Race Course.
 
The Walter Cluer Memorial, named after the track’s founder, drew a field of 11, while the Queen of the Green attracted a full field of 12 fillies and mares. Both stakes will be run at one mile on the turf. Post time is 12:40 pm, with the Cluer going as the sixth race and the Queen as the eighth and final race.
 
The Walter Cluer
Plenty of talent to choose from among the 11 colts and geldings and multiple angles to work towards finding a winner.
 
There’s the speed angle of Concur. Although stepping up in class, the son of Culrin’s Nov. 10 wire-to-wire win was an eye-catching five length victory.
 
Then there’s the off-the pace types like the consistent Gato Guapo who edged out Bobby Baby on Oct. 19 and is back for a rematch. There’s also Thetrailguy, who finished second in this race last year.
 
There’s also the deep closers, like the veteran Stratton, who been in the money in 14 of 17 turf outings locally including 5 wins and High Security who finished fifth in the Cluer last year as the 2-1 post time favorite. There’s also Arizona Moon who always gives a best effort using his coming from the clouds style.
 
Then there’s the ship-in angle. Morse Code, who’s been campaigning in southern California, sampled the local lawn on Oct. 29 to finish second. Adorned ships in from Golden Gate; Dubby Dubbie has been campaigning all over the mid-west and Tule Fog brings a more than credible stakes resume from southern California.
 
The Queen of the Green
No less competitive than the boys, the dozen fillies and mares will have a standout in mid-west shipper Kool Kate who’s won eight of 17 turf starts. The 5-year-old mare likes to lead the parade.
 
First Hunter is a mid-pack stalker who’s been the money in 18 of 22 turf outings. The 6-year-old Philanthropist mare leads all entrants with a bankroll of $226,696.
 
Then there’s the 3-year-old Senoradiablo whose late-kick running style has been effective locally. Another 3-year-old and late runner is Free My Soul, who after two unplaced stakes outings in southern California, finds herself in softer company.
 

What’s the best way to deal with the cold weather in Phoenix? How about a free sweatshirt from Turf Paradise?  It’s not as if you need a parka.
 
A unique Arizona tradition lives on as family friendly Turf Paradise throws the biggest Thanksgiving weekend party in Phoenix that includes free sweatshirts, live local horseracing, food and drink specials, a kids fun park, live music, and more. More than 60 years ago Turf Paradise became a local Thanksgiving weekend tradition for family fun.

You may not be able to move very fast after Thanksgiving, but our horses do. And you can watch, wager, and win on a full card of live local horseracing on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after Thanksgiving.
 
 $2 Day Friday November 29th
Christmas shopping can wait.  Doesn’t a day at the races sound better? Spend the Friday after Thanksgiving at Turf Paradise for $2 Day. There’s a full card of live local horseracing where you can watch, wager and win.  Grandstand admission is $2 Friday.  So are hotdogs, popcorn, soda, and ice cream. Kids 16 and under get in free. General parking is free. There’s also $2 draft beer, $3 wine, $4 Vodka drinks and a live DJ.
 
Family Fun Day November 30th
There’s no need to spend the Saturday after Thanksgiving cooped up in your home trying to install that billboard sized television you just bought. Get off the couch and get to Turf Paradise and get a free sweatshirt with a paid admission while supplies last. Grandstand admission is $3. Kids 16 and under get in free. There’s a full card of live horseracing, live music, and a kids fun park with bounce house inflatables. Plus $3 aluminum bottle beer.
 
Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said, “A cool beer, a warm sweatshirt, and red hot horseracing. Nothing beats Thanksgiving weekend at Turf Paradise.”
 
Turf Paradise opened its doors in 1956 and has operated at the same location (19th Avenue and Bell) ever since making it Arizona’s first sports franchise.

Living up to his 1-9 favoritism, Chief Cicatriz blazed to the easiest of victories over four rivals in winning the $30,000 Luke Kruytbosch Stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
With Scott Stevens up, Chief Cicatriz ($2.20) tracked Oil Money and then under his own power drew away from that one at the head of the stretch to win by 1 ¾ lengths with Fortified Effort in third. With the victory the 6-year-old Chief Cicatriz is now a perfect 5-for-5 at Turf Paradise.
 
Owned by Roy Evans and trained by Shawn Davis, Chief Cicatriz stopped the teletimer in 1:07.61 for the 6-furlongs, the fourth fastest time for the stakes. The stakes and track record of 1:06.49 was set by Twin Sparks in winning this stakes in 2009. The win boosted Chief Cicatriz’s earnings to $363,245 from 11 wins in 18 outings.

Chief Cicatriz’s sprinting resume has apparently scared away all but four rivals in the $30,000 Luke Kruytbosch Stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
The 6-furlong Kruytbosch, named after the late announcer of Turf Paradise and Churchill Downs, will go as the third race on the eight-race program. First post is 12:40 pm.
 
Trained by Shawn Davis, the 6-year-old Chief Cicatriz, winner of 10 of 17 outings, is a perfect four-for-four at Turf. He has twice won this track’s marquee sprint, the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup in back-to-back years, 2017and 2018 for owner Roy Evans. He also won Churchill Downs’ Grade 3 Aristides in 2018. Chief Cicatriz’s went unplaced in his two recent outings at Del Mar, The Grade 1 Bing Crosby and Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes. He will be a prohibitive favorite come Saturday. But is he beatable?
 
Looking to upset will be: Libertarian, who’s been in the money in five out six efforts locally.
It Makes Sense: stablemate of The Chief has two seconds in three outings locally.
Oil Money: Has won half of his four starts locally and won two minor stakes at Assiniboia in Canada during the summer.
Fortified Effort: Has the home court advantage, having won seven of 14 local starts with five seconds and a third. Finished unplaced in the Bienvenidos Stakes, his first start following a three and one-half month layoff.