Vienna attacks Dallas Turf Cup with Suances

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - They're back. Trainer Darrell Vienna and jockey David Flores, who teamed to win two turf stakes at Lone Star Park on May 27, will return to the track Saturday from their Southern California base with Suances, probable favorite for the $250,000 Dallas Turf Cup.

Suances, a winner of seven races from nine starts, is the 118-pound highweight for the 1 1/8-mile Dallas Turf Cup. He will attempt to become Vienna's third winner from three starters at the meet. The other two are Queen of Wilshire, who won the $200,000 WinStar Distaff Turf, and Nuclear Debate, winner of the $100,000 Beck Auto Group Turf Sprint.

Suances worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 at Santa Anita on Monday, and is to fly to Dallas on Thursday for the Dallas Turf Cup. "We've thought about this race for quite a while," said Scott Chaney, assistant to Vienna. "He won at a mile last time, and this race, at a mile and an eighth, is a good progression for him."

Suances wired the field last out in the Grade 2 San Francisco Breeders' Cup Handicap. The race was the first North American win for the British-bred Suances, a 5-year-old who was purchased by Red Baron's Barn one week before he won a Group 1 over 1 1/8 miles in France in June 2000.

Suances was then pointed for the American Derby at Arlington Park, but severed a ligament in his leg when returning from schooling in the paddock for the race. He did not start again until March 2002, when he finished an uncharacteristic 10th in the Grade 2 Explosive Bid Handicap at Fair Grounds.

In his next start, he defeated Explosive Bid winner Sarafan in the San Francisco. Suances will attempt to give Vienna his first win in the Dallas Turf Cup. The trainer has started three horses in the five runnings of the race, an indication that his barn is strong in turf runners. "About 80 percent are Europeans," said Chaney.

The Dallas Turf Cup is also expected to draw Candid Glen, Nat's Big Party, Our Main Man, Chauffe Au Rouge, Maysville Slew, and Don'tbotherknocking. Possibles include Mr. Pleasantfar, Unite's Big Red, Unrullah Bull, Marquette, and Moon Solitaire.

The race will be broadcast on CBS.

Turf next frontier for Southern Tour

Southern Tour, the $100,000 Carousel Breeders' Cup winner at Oaklawn in April, will try turf for the first time in the $75,000 Miller Lite Stakes at Lone Star on June 22, said trainer Cole Norman.

"She's got some pedigree for it," said Norman.

Southern Tour won three straight races by a combined 16 lengths before finishing fourth last out in the $100,000 Valid Expectations Stakes at Lone Star on May 27.

Up-and-comer takes on Volleyball Bag

Mystery Squall, never worse than second in three career starts, meets a more experienced Volleyball Bag in the eighth race Thursday night, an entry-level allowance worth $28,000 for Texas-bred fillies and mares.

Mystery Squall, who won her maiden on dirt two starts back, tried turf last out and finished a close second. She returns to dirt in the eighth, and should be sharp coming out of a five-furlong race. Owner David Beard and trainer Larry Robideaux Jr. have given the return call to Ronald Ardoin.

Volleyball Bag has won five races from 19 starts, and in her most recent out finished second in an entry-level allowance at Lone Star. Trainer Chuck Turco has given the mount to Cliff Berry.

* Broadway Slew, an impressive maiden winner last Thursday night at Lone Star, is being pointed for the $75,000 Colorado Derby at Arapahoe Park on Aug. 4, said trainer C.R. Trout. Trout won the race in 1999 with Maysville Slew.