LONE
STAR NOTEBOOK
by Bernard T. Moore
The excitement that exists at the host site for the Breeders’
Cup was certainly prominent this past week at Lone Star Park. The
first arrivals of Breeders’ Cup participants began settling in at
the Grand Prairie, Texas, track on October 18, and it was not
long before the pace accelerated. The World Thoroughbred
Championships is now just days away.
Many of the Breeders’ Cup hopefuls have already completed
their final preparations for this spectacular day of racing,
which included some of the runners getting their initial look and
feel of the Lone Park track, as they attempted to familiarize
themselves with their new surroundings before embracing the
challenge that lies ahead of them.
During Breeders’ Cup week, there will be no night racing at
Lone Star Park. First post for racing on Thursday and Friday
afternoon is 1:35 p.m. (CST). The first live race to be conducted
on Breeders’ Cup day has a post time of 11:40 a.m. (CST). The
first live Breeders’ Cup race is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. Racing
will then revert to its normal 1:35 p.m. post on Sunday, which is
closing day for the fall meet.
The International Jockey Championship will kick off the
merriment this week on Thursday at Lone Star, with the $250,000
Lone Star Derby (G3) serving as the main attraction on Friday
afternoon. As a rule, both of these star attractions are held at
Lone Star Park during the spring meet, but were postponed until
now to add a “festival like” atmosphere to Lone Star
Park in the days leading up to the Breeder’s Cup.
Lone Star Park conducted its annual Stars of Texas Day program
this past Saturday. Also, prominent owners Will Farish and Nelson
Bunker Hunt were inducted into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of
Fame, an overdue and deserving honor as both gentlemen have made
lasting impact on Thoroughbred racing.
MS SENECA ROCK (Seneca Jones) got the ball rolling in the
Valor Farm S. at 6 1/2 furlongs, the first of four Texas-bred
stakes carded this past Saturday, coming from well off the pace
to post an upset victory. She had raced exclusively in claimers
until this race, and on this day, found the competition and the
Lone Star Park surface to her liking, returning a generous $43.40
for trainer Brian House and regular rider Don Simington.
The Mocha Express, a stakes for Texas-bred two-year-old colts
and geldings, was captured by LEAVING ON MY MIND (Valid
Expectations). Trained by Danny Pish, Leaving On My Mind (Valid
Expectations) earned his second stakes victory at the meet, as he
was also victorious in the $100,000 Middleground Breeders’ Cup at
a flat mile on opening weekend. He now has four wins from five
starts since blinkers were removed, including three successive
stakes scores.
Stonerside’s Stable NATIVE ANNIE (Manzotti), a homebred, made
a triumphant return to Texas by annexing the Allen Bogan Memorial
S. at one mile. Conditioned by Mike Stidham, who is enjoying a
fine Lone Star Park meet, she was able to overcome an extreme
outside post to emerge victorious by a length over Jester Rahab (Dimitri),
who acquitted herself quite well in defeat.
Native Annie (Manzotti) remains unbeaten in Texas, where she
is four for four.
In the final Texas-bred stakes of the day, the Assault, Pish
and jockey Roman Chapa joined forces to complete a stakes double
when GOOSY MOOSE (Shaquin) defeated the 2-1 favorite Desert Darby
(Sheikh Albadou). He didn’t have an easy time of it though, as
Goosy Moose (Shaquin) dropped back to get off the deeper inside
before rallying determinedly in the stretch to post a nose
decision, a fitting climax to the Texas Day Program.
Steve Asmussen continues to lead all trainers, with Pish a
solid second. Pish has been red hot of late, saddling eight
winners in the last three racing days, and is threatening to make
a horserace for top trainer honors. All of Pish’s winners have
come over the main track. The majority of those wins have come in
sprints, while he continues to do extremely well with favorites.
His “go to” rider is Roman Chapa. There is a list of
trainers within a couple of victories of one another after the
top pair. On that list is trainer Donnie Von Hemel, whose
strength as this Lone Star meet has been with juveniles.
Riding regularly for such trainers such as Pish and Asmussen,
it’s understandable why Chapa is on top of the jockey standings.
Casey Lambert, Larry Taylor and Donnie Meche are all bunched
together and round out the top five.
The main track played quite fairly to begin the week on
Thursday. But after the rains came, speed dominated the Friday
night card. The track appeared to be bias free on Saturday, while
stalkers held a slight edge on Sunday.
Despite the rain, the turf course seemed mostly unbiased all
week. The outside paths were preferable from Friday’s card on,
and held an advantage to varying degrees, as some jockeys went to
great lengths to maneuver their mounts off of the deeper going
along the rail.
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (10/21)
8TH — ANGELIC JEWEL was checked sharply shortly after the
break and received indecisive handling in the stretch. Forced to
alter course, she was maneuvered to the outside and flew home for
the place. Was probably best.
Friday (10/22)
5TH — CITY TRAPP was ambitiously spotted for 20K. Forced to
stalk a slow pace on a dead rail while rank, he had no response
when called upon. Would benefit returning a lower level and maybe
a cut back in distance.
6TH — OCEAN FOX finished a sharp second chasing a superior
speed. Responded well to rating tactics vs. open company. A
slight class drop combined with an ability to seize the lead in
next start would be a definite plus for her.
Saturday (10/23)
3RD – COMEAWAYWITHME showed vast improvement moving to Lone
Star and competing against state-breds. Finished strongly late
when able to get racing room versus a perfect trip closer and was
clearly second best. She appears to be sitting on a win.
4TH — LAKE CLASSIC was buried down on a deep rail chasing a
fast pace in two-turn debut. Ran sneaky well. Worthy of another
chance, especially if he turns back to a sprint and reunites with
jockey Monte Berry.
Sunday (10/24)
6TH — SATURDAY AFTERNOON displayed vast improvement going two
turns with Lasix. Forced to race along a bad rail, he closed with
good energy when angled off the inside.
7TH — TEE PEE TOMAHAWK easily defeated a good field of
preliminary allowance runners. May have finally found her niche
in five-furlong turf sprints. Can handle a class rise in her next
start.