Lone Star: Dr. Meatball adds blinkers

Dr. Meatball, Mr. Meso, and Unomes Flash should vie for favoritism in the featured ninth race at Lone Star Park. A well-matched field of seven has been entered in the optional claiming race, which will be run at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Dr. Meatball is adding blinkers following a fifth-place finish in an optional claimer here May 10. He shows a series of half-mile works for his first start since then, among them a bullet half-mile move in 47.20 seconds on May 30.

Dr. Meatball fired some strong races this winter at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs, and a repeat of those performances would make him tough to handle here. He was second by a head to eventual stakes winner Venomous in an optional claimer in December, then was second by a neck to stakes winner Jonesboro one start later, in January.

Cliff Berry has the mount on Dr. Meatball.

Mr. Meso is a 10-time winner, and he, too, comes into this race off a fifth-place finish in an optional claimier. Prior to that May 28 race, Mr. Meso was second in the $40,000 Littlebitlively at Lone Star on April 22. Trainer Bret Calhoun has given the mount to Bobby Walker Jr.

Unomes Flash was second last out to Sweepingly, who returned in his next start to capture the $100,000 Beck Auto Group Turf Sprint. Alfredo Juarez Jr. has the mount for trainer C.R. Trout.

* Following the card, there will be a fireworks display at approximately 10 p.m.