Caldwell has promising fillies; Texas Chrome points to Matt Winn Stakes

Danny Keene and trainer J.R. Caldwell are debating which of the stable’s promising 2-year-old fillies will ship from their Lone Star Park base to Churchill Downs for next month’s $100,000 Debutante.

Bling On the Music, who in April sold for $95,000 to top a sale of 2-year-olds in training at Lone Star, won her debut at the track May 19. She darted to a 4 3/4-length win in a maiden special weight and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

Country Candy, who had been scheduled to ship Monday to Belmont Park for the Astoria Stakes, instead could head to Churchill. She also is being debated for the Debutante on July 2 after her 9 1/2-length maiden special weight win May 6 at Lone Star. She earned a 79 Beyer.

Caldwell said that ultimately, one of the fillies will target the Debutante, and the other will go in the $100,000 fillies’ division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity on July 9 at Lone Star Park. Country Candy brought $65,000 at the same sale as Bling On the Music.

Texas Chrome eyes Matt Winn

Texas Chrome, a four-time stakes winner who had been scheduled to run on the Belmont Stakes undercard in either the Woody Stephens or Easy Goer stakes, will instead be rerouted to an upcoming stakes at Churchill Downs, according to trainer Caldwell.

Texas Chrome had been scheduled to ship to New York from his Lone Star Park base on Monday, but plans changed, and Caldwell said the horse is now a candidate for the Matt Winn Stakes. The Grade 3, $100,000 race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles is June 18 at Churchill.

Texas Chrome is coming off a victory by more than 10 lengths in the $75,000 colts-and-geldings division of the Texas Stallion at Lone Star. Caldwell and owner Keene have been shopping for a suitable spot for the horse, who won three stakes last year at 2.

“We’re just kind of trying to fill in this little gap we have here,” said Caldwell.

Later in the year, Texas Chrome could become a candidate for some of the derbies in the Midwest, said Caldwell.

◗ Gold Shock, a half-sister to Grade 3 winner He’s Comin in Hot, makes her debut in Friday night’s fifth race at Lone Star. She shows a series of strong works for the 2-year-old maiden special weight race for Doug Scharbauer and trainer Bret Calhoun. He’s Comin in Hot won last year’s Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs.

◗ Shraded Edge won the 21st race of his career Monday at Lone Star, while Princess Freebie will shoot for career win No. 22 in the track’s fourth race Friday.