Lone Star Derby

A field of 13 has been entered for Friday’s $250,000 Lone Star Derby (G3) and
multiple Grade 2 winner BRASS HAT (Prized) has been installed as the 3-1
morning-line choice. Trained by Bill Bradley, the three-year-old gelding seeks
to add another Derby score to his record off easy victories in the Indiana Derby
(G2) and Ohio Derby (G2), but we’ll try to beat him with BRITT’S JULES (Jules).

The gray sophomore earned his last stakes win in the Excalibur S. at
Louisiana Downs in late June. That was also his first start for trainer Eric
Guillot, and since then Britt’s Jules has reeled off a runner-up finish in the
Leonard Richards S. (G3) and third-place efforts in the West Virginia Derby
(G3), Prelude S. and Super Derby (G2). The gelding earned a 102 BRIS Speed
rating for his Super Derby run and could hold on here at a price with the slight
cutback in distance to 1 1/16 miles. David Flores has the call.

PIES PROSPECT (Crafty Prospector) captured the Pegasus H. (G3) in his last
start and has showed glimmers of his talent when third in the Haskell
Invitational (G1) in early August. The Nick Zito charge earned a 104 Speed
rating for that race, but only posted a 95 Speed figure for his Pegasus score.
Nonetheless, the chestnut colt has been training well for this one, going five
furlongs in 1:00 1/5 at Belmont on October 18, and could make it two in a row
under Edgar Prado.

Brass Hat looks the one to beat here off stellar victories in the Indiana and
Ohio Derbies. He recorded Speed ratings of 106 and 104, respectively, for those
starts, and also put up century-topping BRIS Late Pace figures for his late-run
in each. The bay has finished off the board only once from eight lifetime starts
and will try to give jockey Willie Martinez his third straight winning ride.

POLLARD’S VISION (Carson City) has earned nothing but triple-digit Speed
numbers since June, but did finish sixth, beaten four lengths, in the Indiana
Derby last out as the 2-1 favorite. He’s listed as the 4-1 second choice on the
morning-line and could go off favored here. The dark bay colt owns two wins at
the distance and will have John Velazquez returning to the irons. They’ll
threaten in the top three.

CUT AND SHOOT (American Chance) could offer a run for the exotics under Jose
Santos. The Mark Casse trainee is making his first start outside of Woodbine in
this spot, but finished a close second in an allowance over that track last out
to earn 101 Speed and 103 Late Pace figures. FLAMETHROWINTEXAN (Way West [Fr])
is a front-running graduate from the claiming ranks. The chestnut has won eight
of his 12 lifetime starts and scored in the British Columbia Derby (Can-G3) at
Hastings Park most recently. He could hang around at the end to fill out the
gimmicks.

MY CREED (Beau Genius) is coming off three straight wins, including a 2
3/4-length victory in the Emerald Downs Breeders’ Cup Derby. He could grab part
at a price. CHARMING SOCIALITE (Sunny’s Halo) looks more suited to sprint
distances, but has experience winning over the track. Consider for the bottom of
the exotics. CRYPTOGRAPH (Cryptoclearance) finished sixth in the Super Derby
last out, but could move up in this field if the track comes up wet.

SKIPASLEW (Skip Away) captured the Golden Gate Derby (G3) in January over a
wet-fast track while going 8 1/2 furlongs, but hasn’t really been close since.
We don’t think he’ll threaten against these. TRICKY TABOO (Mazel Trick) looks to
be out of his class here. WITH DISTINCTION (Storm Cat) was an easy maiden winner
in his third try last out, but we’ll watch for now to see how handles the jump
in class. WILLIONAIRE (Will’s Way) doesn’t look fast enough to keep up in this
spot.