Kathy's Rocket should handle a mile

The $125,000 Two Altazano division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night will be the first two-turn start for most of 3-year-old fillies in the field, including Kathy's Rocket, who gets strong pedigree support for the distance demands. She is a daughter of the Seattle Slew stallion Gold Legend.

"I think she has a very good pedigree for two turns, especially the flat-mile type," said W.T. Howard, who trains Kathy's Rocket.

The Two Altazano will be run at one mile, and Kathy's Rocket could go favored in a field that also includes Chit Chat Pam, who won her maiden in the $30,000 Cy-Fair Stakes at six furlongs on Jan. 14, and It's Valid, a sharp allowance winner at Sunland Park.

Kathy's Rocket registered her biggest career win in the six-furlong division of the $125,000 Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama Park on Oct. 1. She led throughout for a 6 1/4-length win, and figures to be prominent again on the stretch-out Saturday.

Terry Stanton has the mount on Kathy's Rocket, who is owned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations.

* The colts and geldings division of the Texas Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds is the Jim's Orbit, and the one-mile race is led by Upstream and Lissa's Star, both sharp allowance winners in their last start, and Gambling Wolfe, who appears to be working his way toward the winner's circle. Also in the race is stakes winner Lake Mac Mac.

Upstream won his two-turn debut in his last start, when he fought for a one-length win in the mud in an entry-level allowance for open company. He is a half-brother to Stroke, a stakes winner of $416,120. Trainer Steve Asmussen has given the mount to Glen Murphy.

Lissa's Star is a half-brother to stakes winner Catalissa. In his last start, he closed from off the pace to win a 5 1/2-furlong race by five lengths. Trainer Michael Stidham has given the mount to Ted Gondron.