Texas Air will play a part whether or not he starts in Texas Hall of Fame

Texas Air brings a potent combination of class and speed into Saturday night’s $50,000 Texas Hall of Fame Stakes at Retama Park near San Antonio, but whether he starts in the 1 1/16-mile turf race will depend on the weather. The horse is one of 12 entered in the feature, which also drew the Mike Maker-trained Magna Breeze, defending champ Special U F O, the multiple stakes winner Quiet Acceleration, and the Steve Asmussen shipper Seeking West.

The Hall of Fame will share a card with the $50,000 Fiesta Mile for fillies and mares on turf. Both races are restricted to 3-year-olds and up bred in Texas, and they complement inductions into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame. In a trackside ceremony, the 2014 class to be enshrined is comprised of Joe McDermott, Cecil Perkins, Art Preston, the late Dr. Jerry Rheudasil, and the late Leo Wood.

Texas Air won last year’s Star of Texas on the main track at Sam Houston, and he was entered in the Hall of Fame with the hope that wet weather would move the race to dirt, said trainer Allen Milligan.

“I was hoping we’d get a little rain,” he said, noting that the forecast at entry time Wednesday called for precipitation.

But the prospects were diminishing Thursday, as The Weather Channel is calling for partly cloudy skies and a high of 79 degrees Saturday.

Texas Hall of Fame (race 8)

Key contenders

Texas Air (Last 3 Beyers: 93-87-66)

* He impacts the Hall of Fame whether he starts or not. He’s a major player if he goes, but if he does not, either Special U F O or Magna Breeze has a greater chance to shake loose.

* Texas Air was second, beaten a half-length by Expect Royalty, the favorite for the Fiesta Mile, in an off-the-turf allowance Sept. 26 at Retama in his last start.

“I thought he ran a great race,” Milligan said. “He put the early speed away, and that filly ran by him late. That’s a very nice filly. They took it to us, he made his little spurt, and that filly just ran by us late. He’s a gutsy, nice, old horse.”

* Milligan, who trains Texas Air for Paul Rigali Jr., said a long-term goal is a defense of the horse’s title in the Star of Texas in January.

Magna Breeze (Last 3 Beyers: 90-81-83)

* He’s stepping into the stakes ranks following a series of strong races against starter foes, winning two of his last four races at Belmont and Indiana Grand. He also owns some of the field’s best recent Beyer Speed Figures.

* Maker shipped to Retama last weekend and won the $100,000 La Senorita on turf with Right On Kitten.

* Magna Breeze, who will break from post 2, either can set the tempo or track the pace in a versatile style that makes him dangerous.

Fiesta Mile (race 6)

Key contenders

Expect Royalty (Last 3 Beyers: 94-78-88)

* She defeated males last out in an off-the-turf optional claimer at Retama, edging Texas Air to earn her best career Beyer.

* In her last start on grass, she took a second-level allowance at Lone Star Park.

I Am Jane Dough (Last 3 Beyers: 75-66-39)

* She is a half-sister to past Texas Horse of the Year Skip a Smile.