Won Awesome Dude gets his graded stakes shot

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Won Awesome Dude will get his first shot at graded stakes company in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap here May 26, according to his trainer, Mike Mareina. Won Awesome Dude was a dominant 5 1/2-length winner of the $50,000 Tony Sanchez Memorial Stakes in his last start April 19, and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

"He's coming off a good race," said Mareina. "He's just been consistent, and it's time to step up and see what he is."

The Lone Star Park Handicap is one of six stakes on the Lone Star Million Day card. Other locals under consideration for the race are stakes winners Going Ballistic and One Lucky Buck, each of whom are also looking at the Grade 3, $200,000 Dallas Turf Cup.

Won Awesome Dude, a good-looking son of Awesome Again owned by Kuehne Racing, won a first-level allowance at Fair Grounds in January, then ran second in an optional claimer there in February. He went on to run a solid fourth in the $100,000 Gulf Coast Classic at Delta Downs in his stakes debut in March to earn a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

"His numbers have been getting better and better since the Fair Grounds, so I think he could be competitive," said Mareina. "And he loves this track. He broke his maiden here."

Won Awesome Dude worked a bullet half-mile in 46.20 seconds at Lone Star on May 2. Mareina said that Casey Lambert, who rode the horse in the Sanchez at Manor Downs, has the mount in the Lone Star.

Going Ballistic drilled five furlongs in 1:00.40 here Friday.

"I thought it was a real nice work for him," said Donnie Von Hemel, who trains Going Ballistic.

Von Hemel said Going Ballistic will run next in either the Lone Star or the Dallas Turf Cup. Going Ballistic has won stakes on dirt and turf.

Seacrettina to Silver Spur

Seacrettina is headed for stakes company later in the meet following an impressive debut win here May 4. She won a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies by two lengths, covering the 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.20 seconds. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 79.

"She's a nice filly," said Joe Petalino, who trains Seacrettina for Baccari Racing. "She's got a lot of speed.

"What she did, she does it easily."

Petalino said Seacrettina is being pointed for the $75,000 Silver Spur Breeders' Cup at Lone Star on July 26. She is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Sea of Secrets.

Options for Miss Missile

Miss Missile, a multiple stakes winner of $235,188, has a couple of options for her next start, said her owner and trainer, Charlie Smith. He said Miss Missile will be considered for the $50,000 Beach Party for 3-year-old fillies at five furlongs on turf at Louisiana Downs on May 24.

The other option is the $50,000 Chantilly for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs at Assiniboia Downs on June 8.

Miss Missile traveled to the Canadian track last year and won the $45,000 Debutante. She last raced on April 26 and finished fifth in the $50,000 Richland Hills Farms Stakes after setting the pace in the six-furlong race at Lone Star.

* Belton, who was a 5 1/4-length debut winner here April 26, is being pointed for the trials for the $100,000-estimated colts and geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity, said his trainer, Steve Asmussen. The trials are May 23, and the finale is June 7.

* Lavandula, Wasted Tears, and Taptam appear to be the top contenders in the featured eighth on Sunday, a first-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf.