Lone Star Park weekend racing preview
Lone Star Park will resume live thoroughbred racing action this Friday and host racing throughout Kentucky Derby weekend.
Friday’s card will kick off the weekend’s action with six claiming races and two allowance races featuring purses of $33,500 apiece.
In Race 2, 3-year-old horses will sprint five furlongs on the turf course under allowance conditions. Mister Chairman looks like a strong choice here, coming off a third-place result back in March at Sam Houston after several starts at Saratoga and Belmont last fall. Brucelea is another horse with a chance, he has finished second in his last two starts and could be ready to take a step forward. If the race comes off the turf, look out for Sunday Bling and Malibu S S, both will be threats on the main track.
Race 5 is an allowance optional claimer for 3-year-olds also sprinting five furlongs on the turf. Too Much Info should get a lot of attention, entered by Robertino Diordoro, this son of Maclean’s Music is shipping in from Oaklawn Park, where he was good enough for third in his last start. Bling Bling Bling is worth a look also. This horse has Texas breeding all over it, by Too Much Bling and out of a My Golden Song mare; this horse is a stakes winner and should factor in the finish here.
Saturday’s Derby Day card at Lone Star will feature six claiming races and four allowance races with big purses.
The allowance action begins in Race 3, with Texas-accredited fillies and mares covering one mile on the dirt. There are several horses with a chance to win here. Diamonds N Aces is coming off a second-place finish in March and has been on the board in two of her last three. She is stretching out in distance here though. My Patriotic Girl has a win and a second-place finish in her previous two starts but faces the same change in distance. Theteasergotloose is looking for her second win of the meet and was third the last time she went a mile. Guitar Groupie could be worth a look. She won over this distance in her last start, but is stepping up in class.
The fourth race is a maiden special weight for 3-year-olds sprinting five furlongs on the turf. Mr. Munnings is a morning line favorite but is facing several first-time starters, making his task more difficult. One of these horses to look out for is Will Take Cash, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Stewart Elliot. This colt will be one to reckon with.
Race 5 is written for 3 and 4-year-olds racing 6 ½ furlongs under allowance conditions on the dirt. Gunflash is a son of Gun Runner and should be the favorite, but if you are looking for an overlooked choice, consider Ima Big Bopper. This horse hasn’t raced since August and could be racing into shape, but he has the talent to be right there at the wire.
The eighth race of the day is an allowance optional claimer for horses 3 years old and up over one mile on the dirt. Sonneman, a son of Curlin, has been on the board in two of his last three, including a strong second place finish in his previous start at this distance in March. Drivehappy is another horse that should vie for favoritism, with a win and two third-place finishes in his last three, the confidence is justified. For those looking for a horse off the beaten path, Sperle.
Sunday will wrap up the weekend with a ten-race card featuring six claiming races and four maiden special weight or allowance events.
Race 3 is a maiden special weight for Texas-accredited 2-year-olds making their racing debut. With young horses headed to the track for the first time anything can happen, but Too Much Dreaming could be a solid choice. North America’s leader in wins among trainers, Steve Asmussen, will saddle two of these runners, True and Ready and Too Intimidating, who will have Stewart Elliot aboard.
The eighth race is another maiden special weight, this time for 3-year-olds over seven furlongs on the dirt. There are several horses in this field with a good chance to win. Look Sharp was second in his last start after shipping in from Santa Anita. Punctuality will be making his second start after finishing third on debut.
In the ninth race, Texas-accredited horses 3 years old and up will travel one mile on the dirt under allowance conditions. Morolicious will start from the outside. He was fourth in his last start but won the last time he covered this distance. Noise Complaint is another strong option. This son of Palice Malice did finish seventh two starts back but finished third in his last outing.
Race 10 will finish the weekend with an allowance event for fillies and mares 3 years old and up over 1 ¹/₁₆ miles on the turf. Tudela and Tahitian Breeze should be the top two choices, with Tudeal having the recent better form.
As always, the first post time on Friday will be 6:35 and 1:35 on Saturday and Sunday.
