One King's Man needs hot pace in Texas Mile

One King’s Man could get an ideal setup Friday night in the Grade 3, $200,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park near Dallas. The potential for a quick pace in the co-richest race of the meet is one of the reasons the late-running stakes winner was entered, trainer Joe Sharp said Tuesday.

“We looked at how the race might set up,” Sharp said of the nominations to the Texas Mile. “It looked like there would be plenty of speed, which should set up a good scenario for him. He needs the right scenario to develop in front of him, and it looks like in this race that should be the case.”

One King’s Man used his closing kick to capture the $200,000 Premier Night Championship at Delta Downs on Feb. 7. It was the first stakes win for Sharp, 30, who has been on a roll since he began training on his own last September. He won his 50th race last Sunday with Aztec Brave in the $100,000 Danger’s Hour at Aqueduct.

Sharp, who trains One King’s Man for Ken and Sarah Ramsey, said the horse was scheduled to ship from Keeneland to Lone Star on Tuesday. One King’s Man is part of an 11-horse field for the Texas Mile. That race and next month’s Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap serve as the biggest races of the meet that runs into July.

“It’s obviously a good purse,” Sharp said. “We’re looking forward to testing some new ground with him.”

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One King’s Man and Sharp will be making their first starts at Lone Star, but Sharp’s wife, retired jockey Rosie Napravnik, had success at the track, winning the 2010 Lone Star Park Handicap aboard Redding Colliery. In addition, Napravnik was in town this month to serve as keynote speaker at a fundraiser for retired racehorses held at Lone Star.

Sharp said Joe Rocco Jr. will be aboard One King’s Man in the Texas Mile. Miguel Mena, who had been named to ride, will be serving a suspension for a riding infraction. One King’s Man will break from post 8 and will be looking for his 10th career win Friday.

The field from the rail with riders is: Real Appeal Deal, Gerardo Mora; Evan’s Calling, Jon Court; Hip Four Sixtynine, Don Simington; F J Uncle Vic, Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez; Rise Up, Richard Eramia; Texas Air, Quincy Hamilton; Bronce Bellator, Alfredo Contreras; One King’s Man, Rocco; Sr. Quisqueyano, Edgard Zayas; Holiday Mischief, Cliff Berry; Mal Guapo, Iram Diego.

Lone Star has moved the Texas Mile to a Friday night for the first time. The race, which had been run on a Saturday, will go as the eighth at 9:51 p.m. Central. The forecast for Friday is for morning thunderstorms, with a high of 85 degrees and a low of 64, according to The Weather Channel.