Going Ballistic gets 60 to 90 days off

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Going Ballistic, winner of last year's Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby and $300,000 Oklahoma Derby, is getting some time off, according to trainer Donnie Von Hemel. The horse last raced May 26 and finished fourth by 1 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3, $200,000 Dallas Turf Cup at Lone Star Park.

"We did a bone scan and found a few hot spots," Von Hemel said. "Sixty to 90 days should help him.

"I'm very optimistic he's going to have a good 5-year-old season."

Von Hemel looks for Going Ballistic, a 4-year-old son of Lite the Fuse, to return to the racing this winter at either Fair Grounds or Oaklawn Park. The horse is a five-time stakes winner, with stakes victories coming on both dirt and turf. Going Ballistic has earned $940,282. He races for Kindred Thoroughbreds.

Brownie Points, also trained by Von Hemel, won the Grade 3, $200,000 Ouija Board on the same card as the Dallas Turf Cup. She had been under consideration for several stakes for her next start, and Von Hemel said Friday she is now likely to run next in the Grade 3, $150,000 Locust Grove Handicap at a mile on turf at Churchill Downs on July 6.

Euphony, another recent stakes winner for Von Hemel, has two options for her next start. He said she is possible for either the Grade 3, $200,000 Iowa Oaks at 1 1/16 miles at Prairie Meadows on June 27 or the $50,000 Little Treasure for 3-year-old fillies at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, June 21.

Euphony won the first three starts of her career, including the $75,000 Instant Racing at Oaklawn in April. In her last start, she finished third to Storm Mesa in the $100,000 Cinemine Stakes at Lone Star on May 26. Storm Mesa won that race by 13 lengths and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 108, the second best number for a 3-year-old filly this year in North America. Storm Mesa has since been shipped to Churchill and remains likely to run next in the Grade 2, $500,000 Delaware Oaks on July 12, according to trainer Bret Calhoun.

Brownie Points and Euphony both race for Pin Oak Stable.

Two turns, turf for Gyrovagi

Gyrovagi, who rolled a perfect meet last year at Lone Star when he went 3 for 3, will make his two-turn and turf debut in a $60,000 optional claimer at a mile here Sunday.

"He's bred to do both," Von Hemel said. "It's something we needed to go ahead and try."

Gyrovagi, who races for Pin Oak Stable, is a half-brother to two stakes winners. One of them is Bedanken, a Grade 3 winner on the grass who earned $539,629. The other is Much Obliged, who last month won his first stakes in the $200,000 American 1000 Guineas Stakes at a mile on turf at Arlington Park.

Gyrovagi won his maiden and two allowances last year at Lone Star. In his most recent out, he was fourth in the $50,000 Ford Express here May 16. The six-furlong race went in a rapid 1:08.80. Cliff Berry has the mount on Gyrovagi on Sunday.

Others in the six-horse field include C'Mon Tiger, who is a half-brother to Horse of the Year Tiznow, and Waupaca, a multiple stakes winner of $549,726.