A total of 48 horses were entered on Saturday for the Lone Star Million
program at Lone Star Park on Memorial Day. Six stakes are carded for the day,
including two graded events, the $300,000 Lone Star Park H. (G3) and $200,000
Distaff H. (G3).
Heading the 1 1/16-mile Lone Star Park H. is LION TAMER (Will’s Way), who
will carry the highweight of 120 pounds. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the
five-year-old captured the Cigar Mile H. (G1) to end his 2004 campaign, then
returned with a runner-up effort in the Richter Scale Breeders’ Cup H. (G2). He
ran off the board last out in the Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup S. (G2), and will
have Jerry Bailey aboard for the first time.
Among his rivals on Monday are SUPAH BLITZ (Mecke) and HIGH STRIKE ZONE
(Smart Strike). The former won the Del Mar Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) last September,
and
stretched out an extra eighth when taking the Tokyo City H. (G3) on April 2. In his
last one, Supah Blitz ran second to High Strike Zone in the Texas Mile S. (G3)
over the track. Each will have to tote 118 pounds.
The complete field, with riders and weights, is Supah Blitz, Jon Court;
ABSENT FRIEND (Runaway Groom), Roman Chapa, 115; YESSIRGENERASIR (Patton),
Justin Shepherd, 116; Lion Tamer; SNORTER (Awesome Again), Jamie Theriot, 116;
High Strike Zone, Ricky Faul; MAJESTIC THIEF (Mahogany Hall), Clifton Berry,
114; SKIP AND GO (Skip Away), Ken Tohill, 115; WISHINGITWAS (Sandpit [Brz]),
Jeremy Beasley, 115; and CRYPTOGRAPH (Cryptoclearance), Donald Pettinger, 116.
In the grassy, mile-long Distaff H., VALENTINE DANCER (In Excess [Ire]) and
KATDOGAWN (GB) (Bahhare) will share top weight duties of 120 pounds. Valentine
Dancer scored in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf S. for the past two
years at Santa Anita, and last out won the Fran’s Valentine S. She’ll have Court
in the saddle. Katdogawn is a three-time Grade 2 winner and was second in the
Santa Ana H. (G2) two back. Valentine Dancer placed third in that contest. Katdogawn ran third in
this event last year and will have Bailey aboard.
PAZ CIUDADANA (Chi) (Golden Voyager) will break from the rail under 117
pounds, including Shepherd. To her outside will be Valentine Dancer, MARWOOD
(Marlin), Larry Taylor, 117; MY MISTY PRINCESS (Acceptable), Theriot, 117; BLUE
SONG (Sultry Song), Tohill, 115; BONNIE J. (Arab Speaker), Beasley, 114; TARA’S
TOUCH (SAf) (Tara’s Halls), Larry Melancon, 116; VOZ DE COLEGIALA (Chi) (Sayaret),
Chapa, 115; Katdogawn; QUEENA CORRINA (Here We Come), Pettinger, 117; JANEIAN
(NZ) (The Jogger), Quincy Hamilton, 117; and YOURSMINEOURS (Belong to Me),
Berry, 114.
The stakes action at Lone Star will get started in the 3RD race with the
$100,000 Valid Expectations S., which features Grade 3 winner and defending
champion SAVORTHETIME (Gilded Time). The $150,000
Stonerside S. drew the
smallest stakes field on the day, sending only five to the gate, but includes
two-time stakes victress TRUE TAILS (Yes It’s True). In the $100,000
Turf Sprint
H., Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3) hero TOP COMMANDER (Kingmambo) will look to add
more black-type to his record. DUBLEO (Southern Halo) will try to continue his
winning ways in the $200,000
USA S., wrapping up the stakes action at Lone Star
on Memorial Day.