Lone Star: Here's the dirt on Formidable Gold

Formidable Gold returns to the main track and should be a solid choice in Friday's feature race at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Formidable Gold will meet seven rivals in the one-mile allowance race.

Heavily played by the public in two consecutive starts over the turf at Lone Star, Formidable Gold was a big disappointment each time. Nevertheless, he has a much better record on the dirt, winning 2 of his 4 starts on that surface. And one of those victories came following an losing debut on grass at Churchill Downs last fall, so the surface switch Friday should be just what is needed to get him back to the winner's circle. Jeremy Beasley will ride.

Just Devious also returns to his favorite surface and looks like the main threat to upset the likely favorite.

Unraced so far around two turns, Just Devious finished a fast-closing second on the dirt in allowance company on April 17 going 6 1/2 furlongs, and that kind of late energy on Friday would help his cause. Trainer Terry Eoff has given Ted Gondron the call.