Eagle Lake, Most Feared return

Saturday night at Retama, the Texas Stallion Stakes will be open to 3-year-olds and up for the first time since being introduced a few years ago. In the male division of the seven-furlong race, Most Feared will be making his first start since May, when he finished second to Dynever in the Grade 3, $500,000 Lone Star Park Derby.

Most Feared cuts back to one turn, which should suit him since his biggest win came under those conditions in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity. Kerwin Clark has the mount for trainer Jack Bruner.

Eagle Lake, who has won 8 of her last 12 starts, returns from a brief freshening for the fillies and mares division. Earlier this year, she won the Grade 3, $200,000 WinStar Distaff at Lone Star. Melancon rides for Norman.

Thomas dead at 70

Trainer Normie Thomas Jr. died Monday night at his home in Duncan, Okla. He was 70.

Thomas, who had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor this summer, began training in the 1950's. After spending the early part of his career racing in Southern California, he returned to his home state of Oklahoma in 1988 because of the opening of Remington Park.

One of the best horses he trained was eight-time stakes winner Darrell Darrell.