Repeat of last all Chromedoll needs

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Chromedoll ran a breakthrough race in her last start, and a repeat of that effort will be tough to contain in Thursday night's featured eighth race at Lone Star Park. The 7 1/2-furlong, first-level turf allowance for fillies and mares drew a field of 10.

Chromedoll will attract a lot of attention following her eight-length win over $25,000 conditioned claimers in a mile turf race at Sam Houston Race Park on March 29. She earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 81 for the win, a rating that tops all last-race Beyers in the field Thursday.

"If she runs back to that, she ought to beat them, I think," said Randy Mayfield, who trains Chromedoll for Leland Cook. "That last race, she came alive."

The win came in Chromedoll's second start off a layoff. She shortens up a bit for Thursday's allowance, and will break from posto9 under regular rider Bobby Walker Jr.

"She's got pretty good tactical speed," said Mayfield. "I figure she'll be around the pace. That's how she likes to run. And seven and a half to a mile, I think that's her best lick, too."

The chief threat could be Lady Cosmo, who is making her first start since a fourth-place finish to Brownie Points in the $100,000 Remington Park Breeders' Cup on Oct. 20. Richard Eramia has the mount for trainer John Locke.

Paddock has new look

The Lone Star paddock has a new look as it now honors the inductees into the track's new hall of fame. The names of the 14 members of the foundation class have been placed above the 14 paddock stalls in white, raised letters. The decor is permanent, said Drew Shubeck, president of Lone Star. The names of future classes will be displayed elsewhere in the paddock area.

Steve Asmussen, who trains Kentucky Derby favorite Curlin, was part of the original class, and his name appears over Stall 2. One of his sons noted that the number is the same post Curlin broke from when he won the Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

"It's super," Asmussen said of his induction, which he attended with his wife, Julie, and sons. "The kids will be proud of it. Julie's proud of it. This place is a big part of my life. The kids come out. Nothing could be better."

Asmussen has won eight titles here, and has a permanent residence near the track in Arlington, Texas.

* Bob and John, winner of last year's Grade 1 Wood Memorial, and Silent Pleasure, who has won stakes in his last three starts, are among the probables for the Gradeo3, $300,000 Texas Mile on Saturday. The race is the richest of four stakes on the card, all of which serve as preps for races on the Lone Star Million Day program here May 28.

* Cot Campbell, president of Dogwood Stable, is scheduled to be at Lone Star on Thursday to speak to the West Texas Young Presidents Organization.

* Lone Star raised a record $23,000 for the Lone Star Park Charitable Foundation for Grand Prairie during a 10th anniversary party at the track April 17. The funds support as many as 16 different charities in Grand Prairie. Last year, the annual welcome-back party raised $17,000.