Razorback stakes a family tradition

Scamp and a Half and Texas Birdstone will each try to continue a family tradition Saturday when they start in separate $50,000 divisions of the Razorback Futurity series for 2-year-old Arkansas-breds at Louisiana Downs.

Texas Birdstone is a half-brother to Texas Code, who was a seven-length winner of the Razorback in 1999. Scamp and a Half's full sister, Rita Katrina, won the Lady Razorback in 2006.

"We've got high expectations for Scamp and a Half," said Burl McBride, who trains the filly for her breeder, Corbet Bryant Jr. "We've always liked her, because of her sister."

Scamp and a Half is cutting back to one turn and returning to dirt for the Lady Razorback, and the last time she sprinted on the main track she won a $25,000 maiden claiming race at Lone Star Park. She then moved to the Louisiana Downs turf and ran third in the $50,000 Princess at five furlongs on July 19 and eighth at a mile in the $80,000 Wilhite Memorial in her last start Aug. 16.

"I don't think either grass race was her race," McBride said. "She was in trouble in both of those races."

Scamp and a Half has since worked well for the Lady Razorback, which has long been the target for her, given her family history in the race. In addition to Rita Katrina, another full sister, Stormy Rumor, ran a troubled third in last year's Lady Razorback and was placed second following a disqualification. All three fillies are by Storm and a Half and out of the mare False Rumor, who is to be sold at Keeneland in November.

McBride has given the mount to Patrick Valenzuela and is hoping for a clean trip in the full field of 14.

Other contenders include Humble Storm Kathy, second last out in the $75,000 Opelousas at Evangeline, and Proper Prize, a wire-to-wire maiden winner at Turfway.

Texas Birdstone will break from post 12 in the Razorback. He is one of 11 maidens in a field that drew one winner, Chadnjamie. But the race Texas Birdstone exits is a strong one. He was fourth to the well-regarded Titranium in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Remington that went in a quick 1:10. Trainer Steve Asmussen has given the mount to Donnie Meche.

* Autobeacat moves back to turf and the statebred ranks in the sixth, a one-mile allowance. The last time he raced on the grass, Autobeacat won the $106,000 World Series of Poker over Wise River, who returned in his next start to win the Grade 3 Carey Memorial at Hawthorne.