Twilight Road still has a lot of run left in him

Looking at his form, it is surprising that Twilight Road is now 8. He almost overtook Eurosilver at 21-1 last out in the Grade 3, $100,000 Skip Away at Gulfstream Park, earning one of the better Beyer Speed Figures of his career, a 102. And in his final prep for the Skip Away, Twilight Road worked six furlongs in a sharp 1:10.60.

Saturday, he can become the oldest winner of the Grade 3, $300,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star, a distinction held now by 7-year-old Sir Bear, who won the race in 2000.

Like Sir Bear, Twilight Road has invaded from Florida for the Texas Mile, flying into Texas last Sunday.

"He's coming off a real big race at Gulfstream," said David Fawkes, who trains Twilight Road. "I came here before a couple of years ago for [a stakes], and the horse's running style, I thought, might suit this track.

Twilight Road, who usually stalks the pace, last won at a mile Sept. 11, when he captured the Grade 3 Miami Mile Breeders' Cup Handicap on turf at Calder. It was the first victory on turf for Twilight Road.

"He's a tryer," said Fawkes. "The horse always tries. If you look at his form, he's an 8-year-old and he gives you all he's got all the time."

Phil Teator has the mount on Twilight Road, a winner of 11 races and $691,157.

Supah Blitz arrives

Supah Blitz flew in from California about noon Wednesday for the Texas Mile. He will be ridden by Victor Espinoza, who was aboard the horse in his last start, when he won the Grade 3, $100,000 Tokyo City Handicap at Santa Anita on April 2.

Doug O'Neill trains Supah Blitz, who is a winner of $1,084,210. Supah Blitz finished second to Kela in last year's Texas Mile and is expected to go favored this year.

Others considered probable for the Texas Mile are High Strike Zone, Snorter, and Yessirgeneralsir.

The race will share a card with three other stakes, including two $125,000 divisions of the Texas Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds, and the $75,000 Grand Prairie Turf Challenge.

Texas Mile nominee runs Friday

Intelligent Male, who was among the nominees for the Texas Mile, will start instead in the featured ninth race Friday. The one-mile allowance is for 4-year-olds and up and has a purse of $37,000.

Intelligent Male will be dropping from Grade 3 company for the race, having finished an uncharacteristic eighth last out in the $100,000 Razorback Breeders' Cup Handicap at Oaklawn on March 13.

He has been freshened since the race and indicated his readiness to return to the races April 23, when he worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds, the second-fastest move at the distance that morning at Louisiana Downs.

Intelligent Male, who won the $75,000 Sam's Town at Delta Downs on Dec. 4, races for Kagele Brothers and is trained by Cole Norman. He will be ridden by Cliff Berry.

* Norman said stakes winner Boston Express is being pointed for the $100,000 Valid Expectations, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares at Lone Star on May 30.

* Absent Friend could run next in the Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap on May 30 if he does not start Saturday in the Texas Mile, said Norman.