Gryder to ride favorite at Lone Star

Lone Star Park will launch a morning workout program for patrons on Saturday, with Aaron Gryder, who will ride favorite Patricia in the best race on the card later in the afternoon, serving as a special guest. There will be a free trackside breakfast and a backstretch tour as part of the program that gets underway at 8:30 a.m. Central.

Patricia goes in the fifth, a $25,000 claiming race for fillies and mares at a mile on turf. Her task will be to run down Blue Angel, who is the speed from the rail. The last time the two met, Patricia was up for a head win over that rival in a one-mile turf race at Lone Star on April 29. Gryder was aboard that afternoon, and again has the mount for Steve Asmussen, who owns and trains Patricia.

Blue Angel was making her first two-turn start of the year in last month's matchup with Patricia. Bobby Walker Jr. will ride Saturday for leading trainer Bret Calhoun.

Lone Star's morning workout program is called "Jockeys & Java," and it will be held every Saturday in June and on July 17. John Lies, the track announcer, will moderate the gathering that each week will feature different racing-industry guests. Gary West, a columnist for the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, will be part of this Saturday's program with Gryder. Patrons will watch workouts from the Courtyard of Champions, then move on to a backstretch tour at 10 a.m.