Lone Star Park: Lookslikeahit trying the turf

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Lookslikeahit will attempt to become trainer C.R. Trout's second turf debut winner in the last week at Lone Star Park when he runs in the featured fifth race Sunday. The first-level allowance will be run over 7 1/2 furlongs, and it drew a field of 11.

Trout sent out Scat Baby to win her turf debut last Saturday. He said he is now looking into his Churchill Downs stakes options with the filly, who is a 3-year-old half-sister to Grade 1 winner Shotgun Gulch.

As for Lookslikeahit, there were a couple of different reasons to try him on turf, said Trout.
"I think he'll fit really good - his mother ran on the grass," Trout said. "She was stakes-placed on the grass."

Trout also said the timing of Sunday's race worked well for Lookslikeahit, who last started April 14. He is a 4-year-old by Roman Ruler, who gets 9 percent winners from his first-time turf runners. Lookslikeahit comes into Sunday's race off an uncharacteristic seventh in a $20,000 optional claiming allowance at Oaklawn, a race that is a tossout, said Trout.

In the horse's prior start, he was second in a first-level allowance at a mile at Oaklawn on March 17. He set the pace to the late stages in the one-mile race and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 82. Lookslikeahit, whose stakes-winning dam, Hosanna Hit, is a half-sister to top-class sprinter Hollywood Hit, will break from the rail under Luis Quinonez.

"I would imagine he would be on the lead from the one hole," said Trout. "He doesn't have to be on the pace, but it sure doesn't bother him to be."

Others in the field include recent turf maiden winner Hy Lime Time for trainer Dallas Keen.