'Freedom' makes first Texas start

Tale of Freedom has apparently settled in nicely at Lone Star Park near Dallas. After racing exclusively in Florida, she will make her Texas debut on Sunday, and in preparation for the appearance worked a bullet five furlongs in 59.20 seconds May 10.

Tale of Freedom will be one of the top choices in the featured eighth race, a one-mile allowance on turf for fillies who have never won three races. She will be making her first start since March 27, when she finished fifth in a second-level allowance at Gulfstream Park.

Following that race, Tale of Freedom was sent to trainer Bret Calhoun at Lone Star. She is a daughter of Tale of the Cat and out of the stakes-winning mare Feelingbetteragain, and she shows two strong recent works, including the bullet move that was the fastest of 23 works that morning at Lone Star.

Tale of Freedom won her maiden and an optional claimer in turf routes at Calder Race Course. She has been racing at Gulfstream since January, and finished second in two turf routes there. Calhoun has given the mount to Cliff Berry.

Twixy also warrants respect Sunday. In her last start she was second to Kalyrra in a turf allowance at Lone Star. Kalyrra is scheduled to make her next start in the $50,000 Chapel Belle at Louisiana Downs on May 27. Twixy will be making her third start off a layoff Sunday. Trainer Donnie Von Hemel has given the mount to Glen Murphy.

Tale of Freedom and Twixy could both secure stalking trips behind Olmosta, who stretches out around two turns, and Behrenitall, whose two wins have come going wire to wire in routes at Sam Houston.

McNeil on mend in California

Jockey Tony McNeil, who has one of the highest win percentages at Lone Star, has broken his femur. He was injured when working a horse at the Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training at California.

McNeil had surgery in California and said he expects to be out for three months. He said surgery went well, and was in good spirits at the hospital Thursday.

* Lone Star will shift to a Thursday-through-Sunday schedule for the remainder of the meet with the exception of some holiday programs. For example, the track will race on Memorial Day, which is Monday, May 29.