Color weekend green

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - The Lone Star Park turf course will get a workout over the holiday weekend, with an allowance match-up between two of the best turf horses on the grounds, Candid Glen and Gold Nugget, on Saturday, and three grass stakes on Monday: the $200,000 WinStar Distaff, the $200,000 USA, and the $100,000 Lone Star Park Turf Sprint.

The Monday stakes are three of seven that day worth a cumulative $1 million. Highlighted by the Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap, the program is the richest day of racing in Texas.

The WinStar is shaping up as a showdown among turf specialists from Kentucky, California, and Texas. Iftiraas and Gino's Spirits, the first two finishers in the Grade 3 Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs, are probable for the WinStar, while California will be represented by Dianehill and Out of Reach, who finished second and third, respectively, to Tranquility Lake in the Grade 3 Wilshire Handicap.

The home team includes Euryanthe and Sarah Lane's Oates, the one-two finishers in the $75,000 Irving Distaff. Iftiraas will be the 118-pound highweight under Larry Melancon if she goes. A final decision on her status was to be made Friday, said Ralph Nicks, assistant to her trainer, Bill Mott.

Iftiraas has won her last two races, both at the mile distance of the WinStar. In her last race she won the Turf Mile by a neck over Gino's Spirits. "She showed a good turn of foot, and held off Gino's Spirits at equal weights," said Nicks. "There's a pound difference this time, but hopefully that doesn't make the difference."

Nicks said that Baptize, second in the Grade 3 American Turf, is definite for the USA, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds. Also set to run are Dr. Park, winner of the Grade 3 Will Rogers at Hollywood Park, and Sir Brian's Sword, winner of the $50,000 Citation at Hialeah. In the Turf Sprint, Grade 3 Aegon winner Morluc will be the highweight, with Caller One staying in California.

Candid Glen, Gold Nugget prep

Candid Glen and Gold Nugget meet in the featured ninth race Saturday, a 1 1/16-mile allowance worth $38,000. The race is a prep for the $300,000 Dallas Turf Cup June 16.

Candid Glen, who used his late kick to win the $150,000 Fair Grounds Breeders' Cup and the $200,000 Connally Breeders' Cup, looks to rebound from a second-place finish to front-runner Dignitas Dancer in an April 18 allowance.

"I think he was a victim of a slow pace," said trainer Andrew Leggio. "He had dead aim on [Dignitas Dancer] when it was time to get to running, but that horse got to running, too. He never got tired."

Gold Nugget, winner of last year's Dallas Turf Cup, has not raced since having run third to Candid Glen in the Connally Cup Feb. 24. He worked five furlongs in a bullet 59 seconds Sunday.

"He worked really sharp - galloped out in 1:11.40," said trainer Randy Mayfield. "He's telling me he's ready."

* Dixie Dot Com, who breezed four furlongs in 49.20 seconds Thursday, is expected to face Mr Ross, Remington Rock, Five Straight, Fan the Flame, and Big Numbers in the Lone Star Park Handicap.

* Shoo Tell Doodle ($22.20), a 7-year-old, remained perfect in two career starts after winning the ninth Wednesday night for trainer Eddie Milligan Sr.