Hotlantic owns fine figure

Hotlantic put up one of the year's best Beyer Speed Figures on turf in April when she won a 7 1/2-furlong stakes with a 103. Saturday, she will return to that distance for the $50,000 Top Corsage at Louisiana Downs.

The filly and mare stakes shares a card with the $50,000 Barksdale, also at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. It is for 3-year-olds and up and drew a deep field that includes Gold Wonder, King Dan, and Ernesto.

Hotlantic wired the field in the $50,000 Irving Distaff at Lone Star Park on April 25, and the triple-digit Beyer Figure she earned is the second-best number assigned so far this year to a filly or mare on turf. She has raced once since, finishing fourth in the Grade 3, $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff on May 25. Hotlantic dueled through suicidal fractions in the one-mile race at Lone Star that was clocked in a course-record time of 1:32.80.

"They went the three-quarters in 1:08, and [the final time] was less than a second off the world record," said Dallas Keen, who trains Hotlantic. "It was crazy. She only got beat a length and a half, stayed running. It was a little bit of a hot pace.

"I'm expecting her to run her race. I've been real pleased with the way she's training going into it."

Jose Figueroa has the mount. A threat is Tortuga Flats, who is 9 for 13 over the turf course at Louisiana Downs.

Barksdale: Turf start for King Dan

In the Barksdale, King Dan will be returning to turf for the first time since winning his maiden over the surface at Louisiana Downs last September. Since then, he has gone on to pick up checks in a pair of Grade 3 stakes, finishing second in the Texas Mile and fourth in the recent Lone Star Park Handicap.

"He's just matured as time's gone on, and keeps getting better," said Keen, who trains King Dan.

Gold Wonder comes into the Barksdale off a 5 3/4-length win in a $35,000 optional claimer at Evangeline Downs. He covered the mile on turf in a sharp 1:34.40.

"He won his last race on the lead, just flying around the track in really quick time," said Michelle Lovell, who trains Gold Wonder. "But he doesn't have to be on the lead. He can be wherever he needs to be comfortably. He's run some really nice races up on the pace, so I'm sure he'll be close."

John Jacinto has the mount on Gold Wonder.