Top Quarter Horses heading to Lone Star

Fly Baby Fly, the winner of the $3 million All American Futurity on Monday at Ruidoso Downs, and Hold Air Hostage, who captured the $1.3 million All American Derby at the track Sunday, both are set to ship to Lone Star Park in the next few days, trainer Jimmy Padgett II said Wednesday.

Padgett said Fly Baby Fly is eligible for the trials for the $1 million Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star, while Hold Air Hostage’s long-range goal is the Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos. Padgett said both horses will have an easy week, with X-rays to be taken to ensure both came out of their races in top shape.

Jessies First Down, the reigning world champion Quarter Horse, won the Grade 1, $200,000 All American Gold Cup on Sunday at Ruidoso, and also is headed to Lone Star. Padgett said Jessies First Down is being pointed for the Challenge Championship at Prairie Meadows.

“We’ll take him to Dallas, freshen him up, and get ready to run in that,” Padgett said.

Lone Star opens its Quarter Horse meet Sept. 15.

◗ Oaklawn Park released its condition book Wednesday, and maiden special weight races are worth $75,000, with no-conditions allowances worth $80,000. The track also announced that claiming races with a tag of $16,000 or more will be boosted in value from 16 to 30 percent over purse levels from 2017.