Lone Star: Stalwartly gets pace to run at

Stalwartly, a half-brother to 2002 champion sprinter Orientate, should get a favorable pace setup in the $40,000 Nevill/Kyocera for 3-year-olds at Lone Star Park near Dallas.

The six-furlong race, restricted to those who have not won a stakes in 2006, drew an evenly matched field of eight.

Stalwartly will be making his stakes debut in the Nevill/Kyocera. He invades from Kentucky, where in his last start he was fourth to wire-to-wire winner El Nino in a first-level allowance over seven furlongs April 28. Before that race, Stalwartly rallied for second by a half-length in a six-furlong optional claimer at Oaklawn Park.

Stalwartly figures to be coming in the later stages, with quick horses like Corredor de Plata, Castles in the Sky, Southern Humor and Katelyn's Pride expected to make for strong fractions up front in the Nevill/Kyocera.

Stalwartly, trained by Steve Asmussen, is a son of Gone West out of the mare Dream Team, who also produced Orientate, a winner of the Breeders' Cup Sprint who earned $1.7 million.

Asmussen will also start Don't Tell Mommy, who has also done some of his best running from off the pace. He won the $40,000 Pioneer Stakes last year at 2, when he rallied from sixth. The Asmussen colts race as separate interests.