Good post big help for favorite

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - A favorable post is one of several factors the front-running Lord of the Track will have going for him Thursday night, when he starts as the probable favorite in the featured eighth race. The 6 1/2-furlong entry-level allowance is for 3-year-olds and up and is restricted to horses bred in Texas.

Lord of the Track drew post 6 in the field of six colts and geldings, and the last time he broke to the outside of all his rivals, he won his maiden from post 10.

drew the rail in his last start. He dueled through fast fractions and finished third in a $40,000 open-company overnight stakes, which was won by the promising War Bridle.

Lord of the Track's outside draw could give his rider, Jamie Theriot, more options, and the return to the allowance and statebred ranks only adds to the colt's chances.

Another plus is the success that Theriot and Lord of the Track's trainer, Cole Norman, have had together.

At Lone Star, horses ridden by Theriot and trained by Norman have won at a 31 percent rate from Jan. 1, 2004, through Tuesday. At all tracks during the same period, their win percentage - with more than 450 starters - is an outstanding 26 percent. Lord of the Track is owned by Bill and Denise Morrison.

* Truluck, the sire of stakes winners Forrest G. and General Charley, has been relocated to Lane's End Texas near Houston. He had been standing in Tyler, Texas. Will Farish owns Lane's End Texas, a sister operation to his Lane's End in Kentucky.

Truluck is a young stallion with only 10 starters. Forrest G. won his maiden in a division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star and is being considered for a start in the $75,000 Middleground Breeders' Cup at the track on July 16.

Marvin Hayes, who trains Forrest G., said he hopes to see the colt develop into a candidate for the Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity.

* Gene Palmieri has been named member of the year by the Texas Thoroughbred Association, and he will receive the Allen Bogan Memorial Award at the organization's annual meeting this weekend in Marble Falls, Texas.

Palmieri has been a leader in Texas's ongoing pursuit of video lottery terminals, contacting legislators and encouraging involvement from the membership of the TTA. He also operates Silver Spur Ranch near San Antonio.