Be a Resident is horse for course in Stymie

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Be a Resident, who rolled a perfect meet last year at Lone Star Park, returns to this track on Saturday for his two-turn debut in the $125,000 Stymie division of the Texas Stallion Stakes.

The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds is one of two undercard stakes supporting the Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Derby.

The $125,000 Got Koko division of the Texas Stallion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies is led by Stage Stop. The total stakes purses on the program is $550,000.

The Stymie drew a deep field of 12, including stakes winners winners I Spy Wolfie, Hadacure, Power Surge, Daddy Warbucks, and Banquo.

Be a Resident won the $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity and another $125,000 division of the Texas Stallion Stakes last year at Lone Star. In his only other start of the meet he won an allowance race. He will add blinkers on Saturday, and has a pedigree to support the distance demands, said his trainer, Bret Calhoun.

"His daddy, Open Forum, is a Deputy Minister horse, and a lot of those like to go long," Calhoun said.

Be a Resident's dam is Western Lil, a multiple-stakes-winning sprinter who also won at two turns, said Calhoun.

"He's a classy horse," he added of Be a Resident. "He accomplished a lot early on, and he's a very determined horse, and we think he fits well."

Be a Resident last raced at Keeneland, finishing fifth in an $80,000 optional claiming race on April 18 in what was his first start since September. Cliff Berry will ride.

Calhoun will also start recent maiden winner Austin Lights and Power Surge, who could be favored following a third-place finish last out in the $100,000 Crescent City Derby for Louisiana-breds at Fair Grounds.

"Power Surge has been pointing for this for quite some time," said Calhoun. "He's a unique horse in the fact that he's Louisiana-bred and Stallion Stakes eligible."

Ramsey Zimmerman has the mount on Power Surge.

I Spy Wolfie returns to the restricted ranks for the Stymie following a troubled fourth-place finish last out in the $53,000 Golden Circle at Prairie Meadows on April 21. He will move back to two turns, and Alex Birzer will ship in to ride for trainer Charlie Smith.

"I imagine we'll be in a stalking position," said Smith. "He's got enough natural stride, I think, to get himself in a good position."

Stage Stop, the favorite in the Got Koko division, won a first-level allowance over open company on April 27. Trainer Cheryl Asmussen has given the mount to Tony McNeil.