Early Final among stakes aspirants

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - There are stakes plans in the works for a number of recent 2-year-old winners at Lone Star Park, including Early Final, who captured a division of the $125,000 Texas Stallion Stakes on Saturday, and Morethanafantasy, an impressive turf winner who could see action next at Louisiana Downs.

Early Final stalked and pounced for a 2 1/4-length win in the 5 1/2-furlong colts and geldings division of the Texas Stallion Stakes, earning a career-best Beyer Figure of 77.

"There's an outside chance he'll run next in the Middleground," said Bret Calhoun, who trains Early Final.

The $75,000 Middleground Breeders' Cup, for 2-year-olds at six furlongs, is to be run at Lone Star on July 27. Calhoun said that if Early Final passes on the race, the next major goal would be the six-furlong division of the $125,000 Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama Park on Oct. 4.

Early Final was one of two juvenile stakes winners Calhoun sent out Saturday. He also won the $125,000 fillies division of the Texas Stallion Stakes with Sweetacious, who battled for a head win over stakes winner Bridesmaid.

"It was a pretty impressive race," said Calhoun. "She was hooked early, put that one away, and another came pretty hard at her and she refused to let her get past."

Sweetacious earned a Beyer of 80. Calhoun said the plan is to give her some time off, with her next major goal being a two-turn division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. Calhoun noted that Sweetacious is a full sister to La Raine of Terror, who is multiple stakes-placed around two turns.

Morethanafantasy was prominent throughout to win a 7 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on turf here July 6 by an authoritative four lengths. It was Morethanafantasy's second start, behind a fourth-place finish at 4 1/2 furlongs on May 4.

"She's been waiting for extra ground," said Joe Petalino, who trains Morethanafantasy.

Petalino said Morethanafantasy could make her next start in the $75,000 Donnie Wilhite Memorial for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 16.

Peach Brew was a professional debut winner in a five-furlong maiden special weight at Lone Star on June 28. Donnie Von Hemel trains the filly, and said she could make her next start in the $75,000 Silver Spur Breeders' Cup at Lone Star on July 26.

The Silver Spur, for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs, remains the objective for Seacrettina. She turned in one of the best efforts for a juvenile filly at the meet when she won her debut May 4. Seacrettina is trained by Petalino.

Turf sprint next for Wrenice

Wrenice will cut back to one turn for her next start, said her trainer, Randy Mayfield. The multiple-stakes-winning filly made a rare start around two turns Saturday in the $50,000 Allen Bogan Memorial for statebreds at mile, and won off by 4 3/4 lengths to earn a Beyer of 89.

Mayfield said the long-term goal for Wrenice remains the $200,000 Turf Amazon for fillies and mares at five furlongs on the grass at Philadelphia Park on Sept. 27. Her next start, he said, is scheduled for five furlongs on turf, in the $50,000 Adena Springs Matchmaker at Remington Park on Aug. 23.

Wrenice was an impressive winner of a turf sprint allowance at Lone Star on June 21.

C D Cash could be the one

C D Cash could be a slight favorite in a competitive $35,000 optional claimer that goes as the featured ninth race Friday night at Lone Star. The six-furlong race drew a field of 10.

C D Cash was second by a half-length in a second-level allowance at Lone Star on June 22. He earned a Beyer Figure of 90 in the six-furlong race, tied with Hensley for the highest last-race number in Friday's field. Eddie Martin Jr. has the mount for Calhoun.

The chief threats appear to be Por Que, a quality 3-year-old who is making his first start since November, and Trouble Now, a two-time winner at this level this meet.