Top trainers double up in stakes

Some of the top 2-year-old outfits in the Southwest region will be attacking the $50,000 Clever Trevor at Remington Park on Sunday. Trainers Steve Asmussen, Bret Calhoun, and Joe Petalino will have two starters each in the six-furlong race for juveniles, which closes out the meet's opening weekend.

Asmussen's duo of Grand Slam Andre and Big Texas Daddy will start as top choices. Both are stakes winners, with Grand Slam Andre accounting for the at Lone Star Park in his last start July 26. He stalked and pounced his way to a three-length win, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 89 that he earned ranks as the best last-race number in the Clever Trevor.

"I think he proved he's solid for these races," Asmussen said.

Chris Landeros has the mount on Grand Slam Andre.

Quincy Hamilton will be aboard Big Texas Daddy. A stout horse as his name suggests, he won his career debut July 4, ensuring himself a spot in the gate for the $125,000 Texas Stallion Stakes on July 11. Big Texas Daddy made the most of the opportunity and won the restricted race with an 89 Beyer. In his most recent start, he was fourth in the Middleground.

Lone Star Cowboy came rolling for second in the Middleground, a race in which he found himself a little farther back than usual, trainer Joe Petalino said.

"At the break, he got hit pretty good on both sides," he said. "He got bothered leaving the gate. It cost him a little bit."

Luis Quinonez, the defending riding champ at Remington, has the mount on Lone Star Cowboy. The horse is coupled with Cosmo Girl, a filly who two starts ago was second to Big Texas Daddy in a maiden special weight at Lone Star. She has raced once more since and won her maiden over colts on July 26.

"She's training awfully good, and we just want to take a shot," Petalino said. "It worked out one time before."

Back in 2007, Petalino won the Clever Trevor with a filly, Dill or No Dill.

Calhoun will send out Western Forum, who was third in the Middleground, and Range War, who was third in the Texas Stallion Stakes.

Others in the 10-horse field include Man Chester Man, who has won three stakes from four starts for trainer Cash Asmussen, Steve's brother.