The field for Monday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap was just starting to take shape Wednesday. Racing secretary Mike Shamburg said he had a number of horses under consideration for the 1 1/16-mile race, including probable starters Cyrus Alexander, Mobile Bay, Shotgun Kowboy, and Rocket Time.
Carve worked Monday at Lone Star, going a half-mile in 50.40 seconds. He was third in the Grade 3, $200,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star.
Entries for the Lone Star Handicap will be taken Friday.
Matt Bryan on Wednesday was still reveling in Exaggerator’s win in the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown, last Saturday at Pimlico. The resident of Texas co-owns the horse with Ronny Ortowski, Sol Kumin, and trainer Keith Desormeaux.
“I honestly don’t think it’s completely set in,” Bryan, 46, said. “It’s a dream come true. I’ve still got a smile ear to ear.”
Nominations closed last Sunday for the eight stakes at Gulfstream Park on June 4 that serve as preps for the rich Summit of Speed program July 2 that includes the Grade 2 Princess Rooney and Smile Sprint.
Just 11 fillies and mares were nominated for the 6 1/2-furlong Sea Lily, a prep for the Princess Rooney. The group is topped by Dogwood Trail, who captured the Grade 3 Azalea on the 2015 Summit of Speed card, along with the Wolfson-trained duo of Best Behavior and Kiss to Remember.
Doug O’Neill does not have to look far for a reminder of his success with California-breds.
One of his stable ponies is Lava Man, the California-bred who earned more than $5.2 million in the 2000s.
“Those were good times,” O’Neill said.
These times aren’t bad either. O’Neill won his second Kentucky Derby on May 7 with Nyquist, who was third in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico last Saturday.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer turned owner and breeder Happy Alter was among those happy to see Exaggerator register a mild upset last weekend at Pimlico in the Preakness. Exaggerator is a son of Curlin, and Alter has been a major proponent of the two-time Horse of the Year since he first entered stud in 2009.
Alter currently has seven progeny of Curlin in his stable, including Curlin’s Princess, who will be among the favorites in Friday’s $44,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Beholder was allowed to rock and roll Wednesday at Santa Anita, where she posted a dazzling five-furlong work in preparation for the Grade 1 Vanity Mile on June 4.
Trainer Richard Mandella gave exercise rider Janeen Painter permission to let Beholder rip through the stretch, and the three-time champion obliged with a 22.60-second final quarter on Mandella’s watch.
“We don’t do that often with her, especially when she’s ready,” Mandella said. “But she needed something, and you don’t want her getting complacent.”
Monmouth Park has stakes Saturday, Sunday, and Monday this holiday weekend. It is also Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival weekend at the track.
The trucks, which will be at Monmouth all three days, bring great food, big crowds, and long lines. The best handicapping tip of the weekend may be to eat as soon as you get to the track because last year the lines got longer as the day went on.
ARCADIA, Calif. – For the foreseeable future, all 2-year-old runners trained by Doug O’Neill will be extensively scrutinized by bettors before their first start. Such is life for a stable that won the Kentucky Derby this month with Nyquist.
On Friday, O’Neill has two runners in a maiden special weight race at 4 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita – Mr. Louis and Secret House. While O’Neill thinks each is capable of winning Friday, he is more encouraged by their long-term prospects.
“They look like two-turn horses,” O’Neill said. “I think they’re good enough to win first time out.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – Two decisions made last winter have changed the career of Second Summer, who won his first stakes in the $200,345 Californian Stakes last Sunday.
Second Summer was gelded and was switched from races on turf to the main track for his 2016 campaign. A 4-year-old, Second Summer has won three of four starts this year and will have his first race in a Grade 1 and his first at 1 1/4 miles in the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 25.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Onus, who set a turf-course record in winning an allowance race last Saturday at Belmont Park, is unlikely to run back in the Grade 1 Just a Game on June 11, according to trainer Shug McGaughey.
McGaughey is targeting the Grade 1 Diana on July 23 with Onus, and he may look at the $100,000 Perfect Sting on July 2 as a prep. McGaughey is pointing Tapitry, second in the Beaugay, to the Just a Game.
