TEXAS MILE ON TAP AT LONE STAR PARK
Friday’s Gr. 3 $200,000 Texas Mile Stakes has drawn a field of 10, including 8 Kentucky-breds, 1 Oklahoma-bred and 1 Florida-bred. The 5/2 morning line favorite is Jessica’s Star, a Kentucky-bred trained by Mike Stidham for Mark Breen. Michael Langford’s 3/1 Carve is from the barn of Steve Asmussen.
TV COVERAGE ON OAKS AND DERBY DAY
NBC Sports Network coverage of Oaks Day on May 6 begins at 11:30 Central and goes to 5pm. Their coverage of Derby Day on May 7 is from 11:00 Central to 3pm, before switching to NBC from 3:00pm Central to 6:30.
DERBY DAY AT LONE STAR PARK
Lone Star Park’s Grandstand will open early at 11:00 a.m. so you can catch the entire Churchill Downs race card. The first live Lone Star Park race will begin at 2:05 p.m. and the Kentucky Derby simulcast live from Churchill Downs will begin at approximately 5:30 p.m. Advance wagering will be available on Friday, May 6. No drive-thru wager will be available. All wagers can be made with no admission charge at Bar & Book. You may also place your wager right from your smartphone at Lone Star Park.
In addition to the races enjoy live music by Incognito on the Courtyard of Champions Stage from noon – 5 p.m.
Enter the Kentucky Derby Hat Contest! Wear your favorite Kentucky Derby hat to the races on Saturday, May 7. There will be two grand prizes: ”Most Stylish” and “Most Creative” , and both winners will receive $500. Plus, three additional hats will receive an “Honorable Mention” prize.
Judging begins promptly at 3 p.m. in the Courtyard of Champions. Must be 18 years of age or older.
In addition to the live racing fun, children can enjoy the Family Fun Park with bounce houses, pony rides and a petting zoo from noon to 5 p.m.
TEXAS CONNECTIONS IN OAKS AND DERBY DAY STAKES RACES
TTA lifetime member and trainer Steve Asmussen has no less than seven horses he will send out on May 6 at Churchill Downs. In the grade 2 $200,000 Eight Belles Stakes, he will saddle 4/1 Stageplay for another lifetime TTA member – breeder/owner Mike Rutherford, as well as 3/1 Nickname for LNJ Foxwoods. Texas trainer Bret Calhoun trained the previous two winners: Accredited Texas-breds Promise Me Silver in 2015 and Fiftyshadesofgold in 2014.
In the Gr. 2 $400,000 Alysheba Stakes, Asmussen has 10/1 Top Billing for Texans W. S. Farish & E. J. Hudson Jr.
Asmussen sends out 15/1 Adore for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC in the $150,000 Edgewood Stakes, and then has three in the Gr. 1 $1-million Longines Kentucky Oaks: 10/1 Terra Promessa and 20/1 Royal Obsession for Stonestreet Stables LLC. and 20/1 Taxable for Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC. Asmussen also trained Untapable, the 2014 Oaks winner.
For the 146th running of the $1-million Kentucky Derby, Asmussen will send out 10/1 Gun Runner for Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Three Chimneys Farm and 10/1 Creator for WinStar Farm LLC. Creator was bred by Mt. Brilliant Broodmares LLC, owned by TTA lifetime member and former Texan Greg Goodman.
New TTA members Ronny and Cody Ortowski of Gainesville, TX are part of Big Chief Racing LLC, Head of Plains Partners LLC and Rocker O Ranch LLC et al, the group who owns 8/1 Exaggerator.
Former director and TTA lifetime member Sam F. “Sonny” Henderson of Odessa owns 20/1 Suddenbreakingnews.
We wish everyone a safe trip with the best of luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT TEXAS SUMMER YEARLING SALE
Recently the Texas Thoroughbred Association sent out consignment contracts for the TEXAS SUMMER YEARLING SALE at Lone Star Park. The contract listed an incorrect sale date of April 29. PLEASE NOTE – THE CORRECT SALE DATE IS AUGUST 29, 2016. Our apologies for the error.
You may still use that contract to consign horses, and as a reminder, entries are due by June 6, 2016.
For more information about the sale or to download the consignment form, go to www.TTAsales.com. For any questions, please call the TTA office at 512.458.6133.
HORSE HEALTH CERTIFICATES FOR LONE STAR PARK
Beginning immediately, per the Texas Racing Commission, Health Certificates are ONLY valid for 30 days now. The rules for Coggins and piroplasmosis tests remain unchanged.
Please also note that Lone Star Park still also requires EHV1 vaccinations within 90 days.
Please visit the horsemen’s information section of the web site at lonestarpark.com for more information.
NOTES: There are 36 fillies and 39 colts/geldings eligible to enter the $100,000- estimated 2016 Texas Thoroughbred Futurity to be run on July 9 at Lone Star Park. The list of eligible horses is available at https://texasthoroughbred.com/wp-content/uploads/Final-List-for-2016-Texas-Thoroughbred-Futurity.pdf …Our condolences to the family of TTA member Dr. Bruce Melaas of Denton, who passed away on April 28th.