Lone Star: Calhoun juveniles eye stakes

Trainer Bret Calhoun is having a strong season with his 2-year-olds, and a handful of them are eyeing upcoming stakes. Ship Rock, who accounted for Calhoun’s 2,500th training win when capturing a maiden special weight May 30 at Lone Star Park, is a candidate for the Grade 3, $100,000 Bashford Manor on June 27 at Churchill Downs.

Calhoun likes the race’s six-furlong distance for the horse, who closed with determination for a half-length win in his debut. For the effort, Ship Rock earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 60.

“He really did look good coming down the lane,” Calhoun said. “He finished. He was striding out big at the end.”

Ship Rock races for Doug Scharbauer, as does Jet Over. Jet Over won a maiden special weight May 23 at Churchill and has a goal of the $100,000 colts-and-geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity, said Calhoun. The five-furlong race is July 11 at Lone Star Park.

Calhoun has won six 2-year-old races at Lone Star this meet from 14 starters, according to Daily Racing Form statistics. He’s also had five second-place finishes.

◗ Jockey Cliff Berry won his 1,000th Lone Star Park race last Saturday in the 10th, aboard Funtobefast ($5.80). Berry is the all-time winningest rider at Lone Star.