Supermason should be tough in Texas Stallion Stakes

Supermason was a memorable winner of the most recent race in the Texas Stallion Stakes series in February, and if he runs back to that performance in Saturday night’s $75,000 division for colts and geldings at Lone Star Park, he might be tough to contain. Supermason was a 14-length, front-running winner of the Sam Houston division and earned a career-high 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He just kind of took it to them, relaxed, and went on to run them off their feet,” said Bret Calhoun, who trains Supermason for Brad Grady.

Lone Star also will put on a $75,000 fillies division of the Texas Stallion Stakes on Saturday night, and it drew five fillies, led by Infectious. Both races will be run at a mile and are restricted to the 3-year-old offspring of stallions made eligible to the program. The undefeated Promise Me Silver could have participated in the fillies division after a series win in February, but Calhoun said plans are to run in next month’s Acorn at Belmont Park.

Texas Stallion Stakes (race 7)

Key contenders

Supermason (Last 3 Beyers: 79-91-84)

* The Sam Houston division of the Stallion Stakes was a breakout race for Supermason, who collected his first stakes win in the seven-furlong outing Feb. 14.

* Supermason has made one start since, finishing fourth in the $100,000 Northern Spur at a mile April 11 at Oaklawn. The winner of the race, Wolf Man Rocket, is entered in the Grade 2 Peter Pan on Saturday at Belmont. Supermason pushed the pace for much of the Northern Spur.

“I thought he ran a very good race against very tough competition,” said Calhoun. “I was glad to be able to find a race for him there because it was going to be a long time between races.”

* Supermason will break from post 6 in a field of seven.

“I imagine he’ll be forwardly placed,” said Calhoun, who has given the mount to Lindey Wade.

Man of Stature (Last 3 Beyers: 72-75-53)

* He is moving back to two turns, which arguably is his best trip.

“He’s a horse that broke his maiden last year on the grass going two turns the last weekend of the meet,” said Calhoun. “I think he’ll run well. He’s kind of been knocking on the door.”

* Man of Stature has been second in allowances in his last two starts, missing by a neck at a mile in February, then finishing three-quarters of a length back at seven furlongs in April.

* Cliff Berry has the mount on the homebred for Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch.