Stablemates Tocha, 'Frills' can sweep split turf race

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Got turf?

Lone Star Park does, all night on Thursday.

There are three turf allowances on the nine-race card, with grass being the focus in the fourth, sixth, and eighth races. A split entry-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies at one mile accounts for the fourth and sixth races, while the eighth is an entry-level allowance for 4-year-olds and upward at five furlongs. The purse for each of the three races is $27,500.

Trainer Donnie Von Hemel holds strong hands in both divisions of the split allowance. In the fourth he will start , who was forced to steady when she made her stretch bid in an entry-level allowance at 7 1/2 furlongs and still finished third. Don Pettinger has the mount on Tocha, who last fall ran third in the Lady Luck at one mile on turf at Louisiana Downs.

Von Hemel's representative in the sixth is , who makes her turf debut. Last time out she faced winners for the first time and finished second in a one-mile race. She will also be ridden by Pettinger.

In the eighth, , who finished in front of a handful of his rivals last out when second, must overcome post 10 to win the five-furlong allowance. He has good speed, and as a three-time winner is more experienced than some of his rivals. Larry Taylor has the mount for trainer Jim Bausch.

Harty considers options for Shamoan

Shamoan, who finished a strong second to the Belmont Stakes-bound Southern Africa in the Grade 3 Lone Star Derby on May 14, has lots of options for his next start, said his trainer, Eoin Harty.

Shamoan was making his dirt debut in the Lone Star Derby.

Harty said Shamoan could stay home in California for the Grade 2, $400,000 Swaps at Hollywood Park on July 9; head to Churchill Downs for the Grade 3, $200,000 Northern Dancer on June 18; race at Prairie Meadows in the $250,000 Iowa Derby on July 1; or go in the Grade 2 Ohio Derby at Thistledown

"We'll probably nominate everywhere and pick the best option," said Harty.

Waupaca to Dallas Turf Cup

Waupaca, a multiple stakes winner on turf, will probably make his next start in the $200,000 Dallas Turf Cup on June 18, said Von Hemel.

Waupaca added blinkers for his last start and won an overnight stakes at Lone Star. Last week, he was scratched from the $50,000 Barksdale at Louisiana Downs.

"It came off the turf, so we decided not to run," said Von Hemel.