Stall stablemates Rocket Time, Great Minds ready for stakes

Trainer Al Stall Jr. will be attacking two of the summer’s most significant offerings for older horses in the Texas and Louisiana region this week. He has Rocket Time on deck for the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap on Monday, and Great Minds set for the $100,000 Evangeline Downs Mile next Saturday, June 4.

Stall’s starters both bring win streaks into their respective races. Rocket Time is coming off back-to-back optional claiming wins, his latest the opener on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs. Great Minds will be seeking to win his fourth straight race in a streak that includes the Grade 3, $200,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star.

Rocket Time was to ship Friday to Lone Star, said Stall. The horse will be moving from a one-turn mile to 1 1/16 miles on Monday.

“I thought he’d fit on that racetrack,” Stall said of targeting the Lone Star Handicap. “And I like him around two turns. He won the Tenacious [at Fair Grounds] around two turns. But he does both. He’s pretty versatile in the middle distance category, no matter what the configuration.”

Great Minds got the call for the Evangeline Mile in large part because his last three wins have come at the distance, in two-turn races at either Delta Downs or Lone Star. He also is based at Evangeline, said Stall. Great Minds races for Houston Texans lineman Vince Wilfork.

The fields for the Lone Star Handicap and Evangeline Mile were drawn Friday. The Lone Star Handicap went with seven. Rocket Time will break from post 2, under Colby Hernandez. His rivals from the rail are Shotgun Kowboy, the 119-pound starting highweight, Cyrus Alexander, Carve, Supermason, Spider's Alibi, and F J Uncle Vic.

Cyrus Alexander, who is to be ridden by Martin Garcia, arrived from Santa Anita on Thursday, according to Lone Star racing secretary Mike Shamburg.

The Evangeline Mile drew five, with Great Minds to break from post 2 under C.J. McMahon. His rivals from the rail are Grit, The Pickett Factor, Fear the Cowboy, and Aces High.