Big win for Greeley's Conquest

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Greeley's Conquest defeated some of the best sprinters in the Southwest region on Saturday, when he pulled a $47 upset in the $50,000 Temperence Hill at Louisiana Downs. He is now back at his Lone Star Park base and his trainer, Gary Thomas, is considering all of his next-race options for the horse, who earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 100.

"I don't know what we're going to do with him yet," said Thomas.

He said Greeley's Conquest will be considered for races on both dirt and turf, and at distances between six furlongs and a mile. The horse won at six furlongs in the Temperence Hill, and captured his other stakes win at a mile, in the $50,000 Prairie Mile last year at Prairie Meadows. Saturday, he closed from last to get up for a neck win over favorite Wind Water. Greeley's Conquest covered the distance in a strong 1:09.40.

"He got away bad and was in traffic," said Thomas. "He came through horses, came around horses, and finished good."

Greeley's Conquest was making just his second start since February. In his other recent start, he was a close fifth in a turf sprint allowance at Lone Star on June 1.

"I nursed a quarter crack on him all winter long, and now I've finally got his feet grown out good," said Thomas.

Greeley's Conquest was one of two double-digit winners Thomas had in two days last week. At Lone Star, he sent out My Precious Indian ($33) to win a claiming race the night before the Temperence Hill. Millard R. Seldin Revocable Trust owns both horses, and both were ridden by Quincy Hamilton.

Sprint options for Lone Star Special

The Lone Star-based Hamilton also won another stakes at Louisiana Downs last Saturday, guiding Lone Star Special to a front-running win in the $50,000 Pair of Deuces for trainer Danny Pish.

It was the second straight stakes win for Lone Star Special, who captured the $50,000 Incredible Ease for 3-year-olds at five furlongs on turf at Louisiana Downs on May 24. He then moved to two turns for the Pair of Deuces, at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. Lone Star Special held for a three-quarter-length win, and earned a Beyer Figure of 86.

"It was nice to see him go ahead and stretch," said Pish. "It might have been close to his limit on distance. It's hard to say."

Pish said plans are for Lone Star Special to cut back to one turn for his next start. He said he has nominated the horse to the $50,000 Lone Star Park Turf Sprint at five furlongs on July 5.

"It's against older horses, that's the biggest hesitation," said Pish.

Lone Star Special has been on top of his game since he won a first-level allowance at six furlongs on dirt at Lone Star on April 17. Following that race, he won the two turf stakes at Louisiana Downs.

"He's such a versatile colt," said Pish, who trains the horse, a son of Malabar Gold, for his breeders, Tigertail Ranch.

Rematch for dead-heat runners

Party of One and Runaway Scout, who finished in a dead heat for second in a first-level allowance on turf at Lone Star on May 30, return at the same level Friday night. The two will meet at a mile on turf after they closed well at 7 1/2 furlongs last time. The race goes as the ninth, and it drew a field of nine fillies and mares. Richard Eramia has the mount on Party of One for trainer Bruce Jackson, while Cliff Berry will ride Runaway Scout for trainer Bret Calhoun.

* Lone Star regulars Luis Quinonez and Eddie Martin Jr. are riding in stakes Friday night at Prairie Meadows.