Lone Star Park H.

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of eight has been entered in Monday’s $400,000 Lone Star Park H. (G3)
and GIANT GIZMO (Giant’s Causeway) is our pick to come out on top. The Bobby
Frankel-trained four-year-old raced near the back of the Alysheba S. (G3) while
going the Lone Star distance of 8 1/2 furlongs, came six wide into the stretch
and pulled off to record the 3 3/4-length victory. The chestnut also captured an
allowance/optional claimer prior to that one, and is going in the right
direction at this time. Garrett Gomez has the call, and we see the pair getting
their picture taken in the winner’s circle.

ZANJERO (Cherokee Run) has a chance to take the win here in his second start
off a near seven-month break. The dark bay spent much of his three-year-old
season running behind the best in his division, but finally broke through with a
first graded win in the West Virginia Derby (G3) during the fall. A third in the
Pennsylvania Derby (G2) followed, and he rounded out his sophomore season with
another victory, this time in the Indiana Derby (G2). The Steve Asmussen charge
was a well-beaten second in the Texas Mile S. (G3) in his four-year-old bow, but
needed that one off the vacation. If he can regain his fall form, Zanjero will
challenge for it all. Shaun Bridgmohan will be in the irons.

BETA CAPO (Langfuhr) was third in the Texas Mile last out and could give
Asmussen a two-three finish in this one. The four-year-old was an easy 3
3/4-length winner of the Delta Mile S. earlier this season and owns the numbers
to threaten in the exotics in this spot. The dark bay colt has been working well
over the track to prepare for this start and should be included in the gimmicks
under Cliff Berry. Beta Capo is cross-entered in the Dallas Turf Cup (G3)
earlier on the card.

ENCAUSTIC (Broad Brush) is still looking for his first stakes win, but we
don’t think he’ll get it here. Instead, the third Asmussen entrant in this field
could wind up the superfecta after just missing by a neck in the Fifth Season S.
at Oaklawn Park last out. The bay colt has earned some really nice numbers of
late, including 103 and 100 respective BRIS Speed and Late Pace ratings for his
last one, and shouldn’t be too far off the pace early. He could come with enough
of a run to make a place for himself in the exotics.

COWTOWN CAT (Distorted Humor) was a nice winner of the Gotham S. (G3) and
Illinois Derby (G2) last year, but tailed off badly following a last-place run
in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He started to show signs of his past form in his
four-year-old bow most recently, leading the way before finishing third in the
Timeless Native S. at Arlington Park. If the Todd Pletcher trainee continues to
improve, he’ll be tough to keep out of the top three.

WON AWESOME DUDE (Awesome Again) was a 5 1/2-length winner of a stakes at
Manor Downs most recently, but might find this a class above his comfort level.
The best he could probably hope for is to pick up a check. STELLA MARK
(Benchmark) was claimed for $50,000 earlier this year and won the Tiznow S. over
Hollywood’s Cushion Track last out, but we don’t see him doing as well over a
conventional dirt track. ONE LUCKY BUCK (Thats Our Buck) brings a three-race win
streak into this one, but we don’t see him keeping up with others in here early.
We’ll take a stand against.