Wild Flower draws multi-state cast

The chance to race in a stakes at five furlongs on turf has drawn shippers from Kentucky, Illinois, and Louisiana to Texas on Saturday for the $50,000 Wild Flower Stakes at Lone Star Park.

Nicole's Dream, who won the $100,000 Mamzelle at Churchill Downs in April, invades from her base of Arlington Park. Stakes winners Anna Em and Even the Score are in town from Kentucky, while Leslie's Love, a winner of 22 races, leads a handful of invaders from Louisiana.

Others in the race include Royal Liverpool and Princess Edwina, who last raced at Woodbine, and Read Me My Rights, who last raced at Delaware Park. All three are now based at Lone Star.

Leslie's Love made her last start in Texas, when she shipped to Retama Park from Louisiana Downs for a five-furlong turf allowance and won the race by more than three lengths. She covered the distance in 56.07 seconds for trainer Troy Young.

"There were no races for her at all," he said of the decision to ship to Retama.

The allowance served as the perfect prep for the Wild Flower, which has been a goal for Leslie's Love.

"That's her best race," Young said of five furlongs on turf. "I know this race came up a little tough, [but] I love her. I've got a lot of confidence in that mare. She gives 110 percent."

Gerard Melancon will ride Leslie's Love, who has won 12 turf sprints in her career. The front-running mare is drawn outside of her main pace rivals in the race, Nicole's Dream and Anna Em.

Nicole's Dream has faced male rivals in her last two starts, winning a starter allowance and finishing fourth in a small stakes. Earlier this summer she also raced against males, winning an overnight handicap at Arlington by 1 1/2 lengths over eventual Grade 3 winner Level Playingfield.

Nicole's Dream, who has won 10 turf sprints in her career, is trained by Larry Rivelli and will be ridden by Eddie Martin Jr.

Anna Em moves back to turf after winning the $40,000 Ohio Debutante Handicap at Thistledown. The last time she ran on the grass, she won an optional claimer by more than two lengths at Churchill Downs, covering five furlongs in 55.97. Lonnie Meche has the mount for trainer Tom Amoss.