Compendium tries to make amends

Compendium, who was disqualified from his win in the $75,000 Evangeline Downs Mile last out because of stretch interference, is the one to beat Saturday night in the $30,000 Chick Lang Jr. Memorial at Retama Park.

The one-mile handicap for 3-year-olds and upward also drew Big Numbers and the comebacking Arctic Boy.

Since his disqualification in the Evangeline Mile, a race in which he was placed second, the consistent Compendium has been working like a horse on a mission. In his final prep for the Lang, he worked four furlongs in a sharp 48.80 seconds.

Steve Asmussen, who trains the colt for Ackerley Brothers Farm, has given the mount to Casey Lambert.

A threat to 120-pound highweight Compendium could be Arctic Boy, who makes his first start since finishing an uncharacteristic 12th in a turf allowance on June 22.

"He was displacing his soft palate," said trainer Tony Richey. "We've done surgery on him."

Arctic Boy can make an impact in the Lang with a repeat of his second-place finish to millionaire Mr Ross last January at Sam Houston in the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup. He will be ridden by John Jacinto.