Awesome Gem, El Gato Malo bound for Lone Star

Awesome Gem and El Gato Malo are set for a Texas invasion. Trainer Craig Dollase said Friday from Hollywood Park that the horses are being pointed for separate stakes on the Lone Star Million Day card Monday, May 31.

Awesome Gem is targeting the Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap, while El Gato Malo is set to make his first start of the year in the $150,000 Dallas Turf Cup. David Flores has the mount on both horses, said Dollase, who trains the pair of graded winners for West Point Thoroughbreds.

Awesome Gem was second in the $1 million Charles Town Classic in his last start April 17. He is scheduled to fly into Lone Star on Thursday.

"This looked like a good spot for him," Dollase said. "Basically, the timing looked good, it's on conventional dirt, and we've had some luck there before."

El Gato Malo, who won the Lone Star Derby in 2008, will be making his first start since November, when he was eighth in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Prior to that, he won a $100,000 optional claiming allowance at 1 1/16 miles on turf, the same distance of the Dallas Turf Cup.

Lone Star Million Day, which is comprised of seven stakes worth $1 million, could also draw Chief of Affairs. Trainer Bret Calhoun said Chief of Affairs is possible for the $50,000 Carter McGregor for 3-year-olds and up bred in Texas.

Chief of Affairs is emerging as a top-flight sprinter for local owners Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch after earning Beyer Figures of 105 or better in each of his last three races. In his most recent start on May 12, he won the $78,000 James Whitcomb Riley at Indiana Downs.