Invaders land for Million Day

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - The Grade 3, $200,000 Dallas Turf Cup will have a Kentucky feel this year, with Churchill Downs shippers Embossed and Crested expected to start as two of the top choices in the 1 1/8-mile race. The horses flew into Dallas from Louisville, Ky., on Friday morning, along with four other runners targeting a handful of the six stakes that will make up Monday's Lone Star Million Day card at Lone Star Park.

Lady of Venice and Rich Fantasy were aboard the flight for the Grade 3, $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff. Jonesboro made the trip to start in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap, while Gallant Dreamer flew in for the $100,000 Stonerside.

Crested, a 4-year-old who is 4 for 13, is seeking his first career stakes win in the Dallas Turf Cup. He has finished fourth or better in five of his six stakes appearances, and in a number of those races encountered trouble.

In his most recent stakes start, he was fourth by 1 3/4 lengths in the Grade 2 Arcadia Handicap at Santa Anita on April 7. Crested returned April 29 at Churchill Downs to win a $100,000 optional claiming race at 1 1/8 miles.

"He ran a good race the other day here at Churchill," said Wally Dollase, who trains Crested for The Horizon Stable. "The horse is doing so well right now."

Dollase said Shaun Bridgmohan has the mount. Crested is weighted at 115 pounds for the Dallas Turf Cup.

Embossed will start as the 117-pound highweight in the race, which has been moved to the Million Day card this year after being traditionally run in mid-June. He comes into the Dallas Turf Cup off a fourth-place finish to On the Acorn in the Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita on April 22.

Major Rhythm, who was vanned here from Chicago, is weighted next at 116 pounds. He won the $100,000 Remington Green in October. Also weighted at 116 is Waupaca, who won an allowance prep for the Dallas Turf Cup. Others expected are defending champ Trial by Jury, 114; Brego, 113; and Wishingitwas, 113.

'Reinbow' in Valid Expectations

Seekingthereinbow, a winner of 8 of 10 career starts, was vanned in from Prairie Meadows earlier this week to run in the $100,000 Valid Expectations for fillies and mares at six furlongs Monday.

Seekingthereinbow won the first five starts of her career, and began a new win streak in April when she captured an optional claiming race at Oaklawn. She proceeded to win a statebred allowance and, in her last start, a statebred stakes, both at Prairie Meadows.

"It looked like a good time to step up and try a little tougher competition," said Kelly Von Hemel, who trains Seekingthereinbow. "She's done everything we've asked, and this looked like the next logical spot."

Von Hemel said Cliff Berry has the mount in the race, which is also expected to draw Kat Nan Do, Moroccan Rose, Starry Pie, True Tails, and Yo Fanci.

* Miss Missile, who set a track record earlier in the meet, was the fastest qualifier for the $100,000 fillies division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity during trials Thursday. She won her five-furlong trial in 58.49 seconds for owner-trainer Charlie Smith.

* Agrapha can transfer his sharp dirt form to turf Sunday in the featured eighth race, a first-level allowance at five furlongs on turf. Quincy Hamilton has the mount for trainer Dallas Keen.

* Lone Star will simulcast races 7-10 into California on Monday with a pick four covering those races.

* Lone Star will give away folding lawn chairs while supplies last Monday.