Grand Contender returns to Lone Star for Handicap

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Maggi Moss’s prowess at the claim box has been exemplified by such horses as Indian Chant and Delaunay. A pair of her latest successes will be in action Monday, when Grand Contender chases his second major stakes victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap and The Best Glacier goes for his fourth straight win in the $75,000 Jim Rasmussen Memorial at Prairie Meadows.

Moss claimed Grand Contender, part of a six-horse field for the Lone Star Handicap when the race was drawn Friday, for $20,000 at Saratoga in August 2012. He will be seeking his fourth stakes win for her when he breaks from post 3 under Richard Eramia. Grand Contender is the race’s 121-pound starting highweight off a win in the Grade 3, $200,000 Texas Mile last month at Lone Star.

“The fun thing about him, quite honestly, is he owes me nothing,” Moss said. “He doesn’t owe me anything. There’s no pressure with him. It’s fun.”

Grand Contender, who in four starts this year has earned $208,000, is a 6-year-old gelding by Strong Contender. He was third the day Moss claimed him out of a 5 1/2-furlong sprint.

“Originally, when I saw him, I thought he was a horse sprinting that maybe would be better going long,” she said. “He ran some good [Ragozin] numbers sprinting, but I liked his breeding a lot, liked his breeder, and thought he might go long.

“For a horse that was in a claiming race, he’s one of the most spectacular-looking animals I’ve ever owned. He’s a really grand-looking horse. I just thought maybe a little freshening, run him long ... he’s just been one of those few pleasant surprises.”

Trainer Tom Amoss said Moss is a student of the game who does her research when it comes to claiming. The pair had debated running Grand Contender in the Grade 3 Hanshin Cup at Arlington Park but just a few days ago decided to ship back to Texas from the horse’s base at Churchill Downs. Amoss said the travel arrangements came together well, while the Texas hospitality he and Moss experienced last month was another reason to return to Lone Star.

“Both Maggi Moss and I felt they went out of their way for us,” Amoss said of Lone Star.

“Lone Star’s been great,” said Moss.

The Lone Star Handicap field, from the rail with riders, is: Called to Serve, Luis Quinonez; He Has Bling, David Cabrera; Grand Contender; Donoharm, Cliff Berry; F J Uncle Vic, Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez; Texas Air, Dakota Wood.

The 1 1/16-mile race will go as the eighth on a 10-race card that starts at 1:35 p.m. Central. The Lone Star Handicap is the second leg of the Global Gaming Triple that links the race with the Texas Mile and the Governor’s Cup at Remington Park. The horse with the most points based on finishes in all three races will earn a $15,000 bonus to be split equally between his owner and trainer. Global Gaming owns both Lone Star and Remington.

◗ A benefit golf tournament for the chaplaincy program at Lone Star will be held Tuesday.