Lone Star Park: Prince Valleyant must overcome rail in Dash for Cash Futurity

Prince Valleyant might have been the fastest qualifier for Saturday night’s $425,565 Dash for Cash Futurity for Quarter Horses, but it is the horse with the second-best time, One Handsome Man, who drew the better post for the Grade 1 finale at Lone Star Park.

One Handsome Man will break from the 10-hole in the Dash for Cash, while Prince Valleyant drew the rail. The 400-yard race is the first major stakes of the Quarter Horse meet at Lone Star, and it will share a card with the Grade 2, $174,000 Dash for Cash Derby.

Prince Valleyant won his maiden during the Sept. 15 trials for the Dash for Cash. He broke on top in the 14th and final trial, and went on to cover 400 yards in 19.50 seconds. Prince Valleyant was making the fourth start of his career and won off by two lengths under regular rider Larry Payne. Russell Harris owns and trains Prince Valleyant, who earlier this year competed in a series of trial races at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico.

One Handsome Man won his trial in 19.51 seconds, leading throughout for a 1 1/4-length win under regular rider Oscar Rincon. He will be making his stakes debut in the Dash for Cash, and will also be looking for his third consecutive win in a streak that began with a trial score at Ruidoso Downs in August. Ralph Muniz trains One Handsome Man for Flying Hooves RC.

Captain Strawfly will be seeking his fourth straight win when he starts in the Dash for Cash. He is the lone horse in the field with Grade 1 experience, having finished fifth by three-quarters of a length in the $1 million Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park in May. Following that race, Captain Strawfly won two trials at Ruidoso then the Dash for Cash trial at Lone Star. He is coupled with Rc Tres Times Seis. Both horses are owned by Joe M. Flores and trained by Eddie Willis.

◗ The Willis-trained Jess Lips is the horse to beat in the Dash for Cash Derby on the strength of his 1 1/4-length trial romp Sept. 14. He covered 440-yards in 21.21 seconds to set the fastest qualifying time for the finale. Jess Lips is seeking his first stakes win after some close calls, among them finishing third by a neck in the Grade 1 Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs in July. Jimmy Brooks has the mount.