Connally draws a full field of 12

The $200,000 Connally Breeders' Cup Turf at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night drew a full field of 12 horses, led by Fort Prado. The Connally, which has been elevated to a Grade 3 this year, will be the first graded stakes for Thoroughbreds ever run at Sam Houston.

Fort Prado is the 120-pound highweight for the 1 1/8-mile Connally. He will break from post 6 under Robby Albarado and has been made the 3-1 morning-line favorite. Trainer Jeff Trosclair told track officials Fort Prado was scheduled to van from his Louisiana Downs base late Wednesday.

Fort Prado won the $95,000 Tampa Bay Downs Breeders' Cup by two lengths with a Beyer Speed Figure of 100 in his last start, Feb. 25. Before that race, he captured the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Breeders' Cup Handicap at Louisiana Downs by a neck over Onthedeanslist.

Onthedeanslist drew post 12 for the Connally. Corey Lanerie has the mount on the 7-year-old horse, who won the $75,000 Colonel E.R. Bradley by three-quarters of a length over Fort Prado at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs on Dec. 18. The Connally will be Onthedeanslist's first start since January.

"We let him have a little break, and he's training well," said Ralph Nicks, who trains Onthedeanslist.

Rapid Proof, who won last year's Connally, will break from gate 11.

The complete field from the rail with riders is: Waupaca, E.J. Perrodin; Doctor Doctor Mrmd, Filemon Rodriguez; Dontbotherknocking, Quincy Hamilton; Prince T., Bobby Walker Jr.; Twilight Vision, Glen Murphy; Fort Prado; Seainsky, Justin Shepherd; Toratora, Amanda Crandall; A R Crackers, Omar Rodriguez; Dynareign, John Byrne; Rapid Proof, Brian Hernandez Jr.; and Onthedeanslist.

Also on the Connally card are the $40,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes, which will be led by Glitteration, and the $40,000 Sam Houston Turf Sprint, which drew the 12-year-old Proven Cure.

* Advance wagering on the entire Connally card will be available ontrack on Friday.

* A free handicapping seminar featuring Brian Pochman of Daily Racing Form, Denis Blake of the Texas Thoroughbred Association, and Martha Claussen of Sam Houston, will be held on the club level stage on Saturday night at 7 p.m. Central.