Wrenice favored to win fifth in row

Wrenice, a 2-year-old filly who has won her last four starts by a combined 34 lengths, might start as the shortest-priced favorite Saturday night during the Texas Champions Day program at Sam Houston Race Park.

Entries for the richest card of the meet, which features eight divisional stakes for Texas-breds worth a cumulative $475,000, were taken on Wednesday. First post for the program is 7 p.m. Central.

Wrenice is one of the most exciting runners on the card. She picked up her third stakes win last out, when she romped by nine lengths in the $45,000 Houston Chronicle to earn a Beyer Figure of 92. For the Bara Lass, which goes as the third race, Wrenice drew post 10 in a field of 11. Trainer Randy Mayfield has given the mount to Bobby Walker Jr.

The Bara Lass also drew Stage Stop, who is cross-entered in Friday night's $300,000 Delta Princess at Delta Downs. For the race at Sam Houston, she drew post 4. Trainer Cheryl Asmussen has given the mount to Luis Quinonez. In her last start, Stage Stop finished second by a half-length to Grade 1 winner Meadow Breeze in the $100,000 My Trusty Cat at Delta.

Texas Champions Day moves back to a December date this meet after being held in mid-November in both 2004 and 2005. The featured event on the card is the $100,000 Star of Texas, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up that drew such top contenders as Dreamsandvisions, Private Fight, Sandburr, and Senor Amigo.

Northern Scene should rule as a solid favorite in the $50,000 Richard King at 1 1/8 miles on turf, while Hadacure gets back to racing with statebreds in the $50,000 Groovy in a campaign that has included a dead-heat win in the $50,000 Ellis Park Juvenile.

The Groovy is the second race, and begins the stakes action. The forecast Saturday calls for a high of 60 degrees and lows in the 40's.