Lone Star Park: Pish eyes Stars of Texas Day

Danny Pish, who had a three-win lead in the Lone Star Park trainer standings heading into the final week of the meet Tuesday, has several horses pointing to the track’s Stars of Texas Day program on Saturday. The card features four restricted stakes worth a total of $300,000, including a pair of $75,000 Texas Stallion Stakes races for 2-year-olds, the Staunch Avenger and the Pan Zareta.

“The horse I’m looking at running in the Staunch Avenger is Validated Blarney,” Pish said. “He was third in the Sales Futurity. He’s still a maiden, but he showed up in that race, so I believe we’ll try him in the Stallion Stakes.

“In the fillies division of the Stallion Stakes, which is named the Pan Zareta, I’m probably going to try two. I’ve got a filly, Wahine Bling, who won at first asking, then also a maiden filly, Platinum Song, who was a fast-closing fourth in the Sales Futurity.”

Wahine Bling had been entered in the $50,000 Princess last month at Louisiana Downs, but was scratched and has since worked back at Lone Star in preparation for the Stallion Stakes.

“She had a little respiratory, like 2-year-olds get,” Pish said. “A snotty nose . . . kindergarten syndrome, I like to call it.”

Pish also will be active in the $50,000 Assault, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Texas that he has won four times with Goosey Moose. Pish said Safe Range, an allowance winner at Lone Star in his last start May 28, is a go for the Assault, while Cougar Hollow, who took a first-level allowance June 2, is possible for the race Saturday.

Pish had won 39 races at Lone Star through Monday, three more than defending training champ Bret Calhoun. The meet closes Sunday.

◗ Drunk Dial will be going for his fifth straight win while trying turf for the first time in Wednesday night’s third race at Lone Star. He is trained by Jack Bruner, who following the meet will set up a 25-horse stable at Del Mar.

◗ Lone Star has a special first post of 5 p.m. Central Wednesday, with fireworks to follow the card. The track will be dark Thursday and then resumes racing at 6:35 p.m. Friday.