PREACHINATTHEBAR (Silver Charm) has been assigned the highweight of 121
pounds for Monday’s $400,000 Lone Star Park H. (G3), one of two graded events on
Lone Star Million Day. The gray five-year-old started off his year with a good
fourth in the Santana Mile H., but really started rounding into form with a
length win in the Tokyo City H. (G3) at Santa Anita. The Bob Baffert charge was
last seen taking the Texas Mile S. (G3) over the track, and will keep Jon Court,
who was aboard for the past two wins, in the saddle on Monday.
TEXCESS (In Excess [Ire]) will be looking to turn the tables on
Preachinatthebar after running second and third in the Tokyo City Cup and Texas
Mile, respectively. The Mike Mitchell-trained bay is also looking for his first
win since taking the Delta Jackpot S. in December of 2004. Another contender,
MAGNUM (Arg) (El Compinche), is still seeking his first stakes victory. However,
the five-year-old easily proved he belonged at this level with runner-up
finishes in the Santa Anita H. (G1) and Oaklawn H. (G2) in his past two.
Other rivals include Golden Gate Fields H. (G3) hero COSMONAUT (Lemon Drop
Kid) and the second and fourth place runners in the Texas Mile, STOCKHOLDER
(Bertrando) and NAKAYAMA KUN (Known Fact), respectively.
The complete field for the Lone Star Park H. is Magnum, Pat Valenzuela, 117;
REAL DANDY (Yankee Victor), Quincy Hamilton, 116; Texcess, Aaron Gryder, 116;
WATCHEM SMOKEY (Alphabet Soup), Kerwin Clark, 115; WISHINGITWAS (Sandpit [Brz]),
Clifton Berry, 113; Cosmonaut, Julien Leparoux, 116; Preachinatthebar; DOMINGUIN
(Per) (Domingo), Ramon Dominguez, 114; Nakayama Kun, Rafael Mojica, 116; and
Stockholder, Luis Quinonez, 116.
One race earlier, a field of 10 turf distaffers will go a mile in the
$200,000 WinStar Distaff H. SWEET TALKER (Stormin Fever) has yet to run off the
board from eight starts on the green, including six wins. She posted one of
those victories while taking the Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup
(G1) in her last start of 2005, and another came when the dark bay miss made her
four-year-old debut last out in the Dahlia S.
Sweet Talker may be on a tear of late, but she’ll have to overcome the
veteran KATDOGAWN (GB) (Bahhare), who won last year’s Distaff by 1 1/2 lengths.
That was her last score, but Katdogawn has done well this year, running close
races in the Buena Vista H. (G2) and Santa Ana H. (G2).
Sweet Talker will lead the post parade to the gate while carrying 120 pounds,
including jockey Dominguez. Next in line will be MY MISTY PRINCESS (Acceptable),
Quinonez, 116; Katdogawn, Gryder, 119; PAZ CIUDADANA (Chi) (Golden Voyager),
Hamilton, 117; LOCK AND KEY (Ire) (Key of Luck), Valenzuela, 116; STRETCHING
(Red Ransom), Ted Gordon, 114; JOINT ASPIRATION (GB) (Pivotal), Leparoux, 115;
CAVIAR EMPTOR (Quiet American), Berry, 115; STELA (Chi) (Sam M.), Jamie Theriot,
115; and PEACEFUL LOVE (Ger) (Dashing Blade), Court, 115.
Four other stakes fill out Lone Star Million Day, with the $150,000
Pin Oak Stud
USA S. starting off the stakes action. A field of six will run in that 1
1/16-mile grass test, including Crown Royal American Turf S. (G3) hero STREAM
CAT (Black Minnaloushe), who broke his maiden when taking the With Anticipation
S. on the turf last year at Saratoga. Next up will be the $100,000
Beck
Auto Group Turf Sprint H., where Aegon Turf Sprint S. (G3) winner MAN OF
ILLUSION (Aus) (Encosta de Lago) will attempt to keep his seven rivals at bay
while going five furlongs on the green.
A total of 10 distaffers were entered in the $100,000
Valid Expectations S. going six furlongs, while 11 sophomore fillies are set
to contest the $100,000
Stonerside S. at seven furlongs.