Clubhouse Rules returns in Strub Stakes

The 2010 stakes winner Clubhouse Ride will return from a layoff of nearly 13 months in Saturday’s $200,000 Strub Stakes, a situation that trainer Craig Lewis admits is less than ideal.




“My options are somewhat limited with him,” he said. “It’s pretty demanding to go a mile and an eighth after his workouts.”



Owned by a partnership, Clubhouse Ride has won 2 of 11 starts and $317,550. He was second behind Tapizar in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes here in January 2011, and must once again deal with that colt in the Grade 2 Strub, which is run over 1 1/8 miles for 4-year-olds. Tapizar won the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes over 1 1/16 miles last month, and will be a strong favorite in the Strub.



Clubhouse Ride, the winner of the Barretts Juvenile Stakes at Fairplex Park in September 2010, was diagnosed with a hairline fracture of his right ankle a month after the 2011 Sham.



The Strub will be the longest race of Clubhouse Ride’s career. Acknowledging the competition, Lewis is hopeful that the Strub Stakes will be a foundation for the rest of Clubhouse Ride’s season.



“I think he’s up against it,” Lewis said. “Tapizar is a tough horse and he’s fit. We want to let him relax and run his race. And more importantly come back good.”



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