AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
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TEXAS MILE S. (G3), 10TH-LS, $300,000, 3YO/UP, 1M, 5:47 P.M. CDT, 4-25 |
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| 1 |
HALO NAJIB, 4, c, by Halo’s ImageNajibe’s Wish, by Sword Dance (Ire) O-Zayat Stables LLC; B-John S. Scott (Fl) |
| 2 |
SMOOTH AIR, 4, c, by Smooth JazzAir France, by French Deputy O-Mount Joy Stables Inc; B-Mount Joy Stables (Fl) |
| 3 |
KING DAN, 4, G, by IncludeBouche Bee, by Naevus O-Jack Randall & Tom Clark; B-Jones Brereton C. (Ky) |
| 4 |
POR QUE, 4, G, by WhywhywhySlew Smarts, by Seattle Slew O-Tom R Durant; B-Sliger Bob (Ky) |
| 5 |
JONESBORO, 7, h, by SefapianoMom’s Command, by Top Command O-Michael Langford; B-Jayeff B Stables (Ky) |
| 6 |
ENCAUSTIC, 5, h, by Broad BrushIlleria, by Stop the Music O-Millennium Farms; B-Fitzhugh, LLC (Md) |
| 7 |
CATMANTOO, 6, G, by Vision and VersePromiscuous Angel, by Deputy Minister O-Tri-Star Racing LLC; B-Coal Creek Farm (Ky) |
| 8 |
KING DARIUS, 4, c, by EltishLittle Miss Magic, by Rhythm O-Andrew Ali; B-Ali Andrew Earl (Fl) |
A field of eight was entered to contest the $300,000 Texas Mile S. (G3) at
Lone Star on Saturday, but Grade 2 victor SMOOTH AIR (Smooth Jazz), who would
have been the heavy favorite, will be scratched following a colic attack on
Thursday.
JONESBORO (Sefapiano) is winless in three tries in 2009 but has the back
class to take this field down for Randy Morse. The seven-year-old chestnut has a
sparkling 5-3-1-0 mark at the distance and blew out a nice three-eighths over
this oval in advance of this, so we’re expecting a big showing from this
Kentucky-bred.
CATMANTOO (Vision and Verse) faced some quality horses with good results last
year, and the intriguing longshot finished a fine third in the Razorback H. (G2)
two races back. The former claimer has three wins at the trip and could be live
from just off of the pace.
HALO HAJIB (Halo’s Image) has placed in three consecutive Grade 2 events out
west for Mike Mitchell, and the four-year-old will ship in hopes of bagging his
first dirt win. The chestnut has good tactical speed and should get the one-mile
distance with ease, but he’s still an unproven commodity on this surface. We’ll
keep him on the bottom of the gimmicks at an expected short price.
KING DAN (Include) has excellent early speed and could lead the field early,
but he’s had trouble with second-level allowance foes on two straight occasions
and will need some improvement to challenge these late. A slow, uncontested lead
could find the gelding hanging on for a share. POR QUE (Whywhywhy) has crossed
the finish line first or second in six of his last seven outings for conditioner
Jack Bruner. The gelded bay has never faced a field of this caliber in the past,
but his consistency and running style could lead to a minor award at a nice
price.
ENCAUSTIC (Broad Brush) has been in the mix in a few races like this and will
likely break through some day, so we’ll give the five-year-old a small chance at
a nice price for Steve Asmussen. The well-bred Maryland-bred showed nothing in
his last but seemingly recovered in good fashion, drilling a half-mile over this
strip earlier in the week. Eddie Martin Jr. has the call. KING DARIUS (Eltish)
looks overmatched in here.