Hallowed Dreams takes plunge

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Hallowed Dreams, who has compiled a 21-for-22 career record while racing exclusively in Louisiana, will cross state lines for the first time to run in the $100,000 Valid Expectations, one of seven stakes worth a cumulative $1 million Monday at Lone Star Park.

Lone Star Million Day, to be conducted for the third time, is the richest day of racing in Texas. Last year's program drew a crowd of 18,319.

Hallowed Dreams, a winner of $557,994, worked five furlongs in 56 seconds at her Evangeline Downs base May 19 for the Valid Expectations. "I wanted to tighten her up," said trainer Lloyd Romero. "I think she's going to run good. She's telling me that she's going to."

Romero said a lack of races for Hallowed Dreams in Louisiana led him to point for the Valid Expectations, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares that has also drawn Miss Seffens, a four-length allowance winner last out at Churchill Downs.

Tanaka holds strong hand

Iftiraas and Euryanthe, who each have won their last two starts for owner Gary Tanaka, will form a powerful entry in the $200,000 WinStar Distaff, a one-mile turf race that has also attracted Gino's Spirits, Sarah Lane's Oates, Dianehill, and Out of Reach.

Iftiraas, trained by Bill Mott, will start as the 118-pound highweight on the strength of her win in the Grade 3 Distaff Turf Mile. She will be ridden by Larry Melancon. Euryanthe, trained by Steve Asmussen, has won stakes in each of her last two starts, including Lone Star's $75,000 Irving Distaff.

The biggest threat to the Tanaka-owned pair could be Gino's Spirits, a sharp second in the Turf Mile.

Dr. Park vs. Baptize in USA

The California-based Dr. Park, winner of the Grade 3 Will Rogers at Hollywood Park, squares off with the Kentucky-based Baptize, winner of Keeneland's Transylvania, in the $200,000 Diamond "A" USA, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds. Dr. Park, who has won three of five career starts for trainer John Sadler, faces his toughest opponent yet in Baptize, who has run no worse than second in seven career starts, six of which have come in turf stakes. He is trained by Mott.

* Morluc, who in his last start won the Grade 3 Aegon at Churchill Downs, is the one to beat in the $100,000 Lone Star Park Turf Sprint, a five-furlong grass race that also drew defending champ Caro's Royalty, Wild Hits, and Dr. Lewis.

* Boots on Sunday, who set a track record for six furlongs when he won last year's $50,000 Carter McGregor Jr. Memorial in 1:08.38, will attempt to defend his title in the race for Texas-breds, which drew a deep field, including Beverly Greedy and Desert Air.

* Nanie's Dinner, who possesses good speed, and Wadif, a powerful closer, meet in the $50,000 JEH Stallion Station, a six-furlong race for fillies and mares bred in Texas.