GRAND PRAIRIE, Tex. – Touchuponastar ran one of the most courageous races of his career last year when second to Frosted Grace in the Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park. Both horses return for Monday’s Grade 3, $400,000 renewal of the richest Thoroughbred race in Texas and Touchuponastar appears to have a few key variables in his favor for the rematch. But it’s much more than a rematch. “It’s eight quality individuals,” owner Jake Delhomme said of the field that includes another past winner in Silver Prospector, Grade 2 winner Everso Mischievous, and Sunland Park Handicap hero Presidential. The Sexton anchors the Lone Star Million Day card of six stakes worth a total of $1.2 million. It will again be unable to be exported to U.S. locales other than Texas tracks due to an ongoing impasse between the Texas Racing Commission and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. Touchuponastar broke from post 10 in last year’s Sexton, withstood pace pressure on all sides, and fought on valiantly under regular rider Timothy Thornton. For his return this year, Touchuponastar will start from post 3 and is drawn outside primary pace rival Everso Mischievous. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  “Love the post position compared to last year,” Delhomme said. “I’m hoping he breaks like he normally does and I would assume Timmy’s going to play it by ear. But it is nice that it seems like the other speed is on the inside of us. Now, is there more [speed]? Does someone else go and push? I’m not quite sure. We’ll see. “It’s a field full of quality and he’s going to have to have his running shoes on, which knock on wood, he’s always kind of shown up. We’ve been pointing for this race, in essence, this last year. He’s doing well and we’ll try to make as best account of ourselves as we can.” Touchuponastar is a nine-time stakes winner for trainer Jeff Delhomme. He’s made one graded-stakes start since last year, finishing second in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic in March at Fair Grounds. The reigning Louisiana-bred of the year, Touchuponastar’s notable form comes at a time when Free Like a Girl has placed in consecutive Grade 1 races and Ova Charged put up the year’s best Beyer Figure. “It’s been a good run by Louisiana-breds,” said Jake Delhomme. Lure Him In, a multiple stakes-winning Florida-bred, invades from Gulfstream Park off a fourth in the Grade 3 Ghostzapper on March 30. “It was the first time I ran him and I thought he ran an even fourth,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “He just didn’t really kick in like I thought he should have. Since then, we gave him a little freshening and he’s come back and worked really well. We’re taking the blinkers off him. He’s worked well without the blinkers. I don’t really think he needs blinkers. I feel like he goes there with a good chance.” C2 Racing bought a majority stake in Lure Him In ahead of the Ghostzapper and the horse is one of several the ownership group has in on the Monday card. “They bought him with this race in mind,” Joseph said. “This is a big day for them, to bring horses home, to have chances to run.” Edgard Zayas has the mount from post 4. Frosted Grace won the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile in his last start. Ramon Vazquez has the mount for trainer Mike Maker. Full field for Texas Derby E J Won the Cup will attempt to become the fourth next-out winner to emerge from the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby when he starts as part of a field of 10 in the $300,000 Texas Derby. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. The 1 1/16-mile race includes Real Men Violin, runner-up in the Illinois Derby, and Informed Patriot, a full brother to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run. He is coming off a win in the Bathhouse Row at Oaklawn Park. E J Won the Cup was third in the Santa Anita Derby, which has produced a next-out stakes winner in Tapalo and a pair of overnight winners. E J Won the Cup was prominent in the race under Mike Smith, who will be aboard Monday from post 2. One start prior, the horse won a maiden race at a mile at Santa Anita and the Turf Paradise Derby at 1 1/16 miles in March. “The Santa Anita Derby, a mile and an eighth, he just ran every step of the way,” said trainer Doug O’Neill. “I just loved his maturity and the way he’s progressed. “From Day One, we were always really excited with him and then we were a tad, just a little bit, impatient and disappointed he wasn’t doing it early on. But once we stretched him out, we were like, ‘Aha, this is what we’ve been seeing in the mornings.’ So, we’re hoping we can continue with the right trend.” E J Won the Cup has worked back sharply. Among his moves is a bullet five-eighths in 58.60 seconds May 12. General Ledger, who is co-owned by C2 Racing, enters off a win in a first-level allowance at seven furlongs at Gulfstream. The start was on dirt; he’s also a winner on Tapeta. “So two turns is the question mark,” Joseph said. “He definitely seems to be better on the dirt. His last race was encouraging. If he gets the distance, I think he has a big shot.” A first for Joseph, Smith Spirit Wind will be the first horse the West Coast-based Smith rides for the East Coast-based Joseph when she starts in the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint. “I’ve always wanted to have a win with him and hopefully she’s the one to do it,” said Joseph. Spirit Wind set the pace and finished sixth last out in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff over seven furlongs at Churchill Downs. She is moving back to six furlongs, the distance of her win in the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream. “She’s naturally fast,” Joseph said. “Back at six furlongs – it’s probably her best distance. Seven is probably stretching her a bit, a bit beyond her limitations. She’s speed. She’s very fast. She doesn’t need the lead, but I think she’s fast enough she’ll be on the engine.” :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures Joseph has another notable sprinter on the card in Mish in the $100,000 Speightstown. He is coming off a second-place finish in the Lake Hamilton at Oaklawn. “He ran into Skelly,” Joseph said. “He was a very good second, ran one of his best Beyers. I’m again hoping he can run a similar, consistent race.” ◗ Mister Mmmmm ran some turf sprint races that would put him at the forefront in the $100,000 Chamberlain Bridge. ◗ Freydis the Red, winner of the Dueling Grounds Oaks, goes in the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff. Reylu Gutierrez has the mount for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Kenny McPeek. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.