Wrenice moving on after troubled trip

Wrenice has dominated the Texas Stallion Stakes series for her division since last year, and will attempt to take down a third win in the program on Feb. 17, when she starts in the $125,000 Two Altazano division - a mile race for 3-year-old fillies - at Sam Houston Race Park.

Wrenice won the 5 1/2-furlong division of the Stallion Stakes at Lone Star Park in July, and it was the start of a five-race win streak that ended Jan. 26 with her second-place finish in the $50,000 Genesis at Delta Downs.

Wrenice was the odds-on favorite in the two-turn Genesis after having won her previous five starts by a combined 40 lengths. She was beaten 1 1/2 lengths after she had a troubled trip from her rail post.

"She got away a little sluggish," said Randy Mayfield, who trains Wrenice. "She had to check a couple of times in that first turn, so it kind of knocked us back, sort of. She never did get to the front like she normally does.

"The way she dug in and came running late there, I was really happy about that.

Mayfield said Wrenice came out of the Genesis in good order, and will point for the Two Altazano.

Her other win in the Stallion Stakes series came in the six-furlong division this past fall at Retama Park. Wrenice is based at Sam Houston, and she has already won two stakes this meet, the Houston Chronicle and the Bara Lass.

Dozen go in Texans

Airizon can win her first turf race on Saturday night, when she takes on 11 other fillies and mares in the $25,000 Texans at five furlongs on the grass. Airizon last raced on turf two starts ago, finishing a close third to stakes winner Shop Again in a money allowance at Remington Park on Nov. 25.

In her most recent start, Airizon was a wire-to-wire winner of a 5 1/2-furlong optional claimer at Sam Houston on Dec. 30. She has made five starts on turf, and finished second in two of those races and third once. Trainer John Locke has given the mount to Richard Eramia.

Others of interest in the field include Tawnka, who cuts back to one turn after finishing fourth in the $40,000 Prime Rewards at one mile at Delta Downs on Dec. 29. Bobby Walker Jr. has the mount for trainer Cliff Haydel.

* There is no live racing Sunday at Sam Houston because of the Super Bowl.