Lone Star Park: Coyote Legend, Skip a Smile Meet Again

Coady Photography
Coyote Legend will try for his 18th career win in Saturday’s featured race at Lone Star Park.

Saturday’s Lone Star Park allowance feature at a mile on turf has all the makings of a good, old-fashioned Texas shootout.

In one corner is Coyote Legend, a 17-time winner who does not appear to have lost a step, having won three of his last four starts. In the other is Skip a Smile, who has won 11 times, including his last two in stakes company over the winter at Sam Houston.

The two biggest names in Texas racing train the pair. Bret Calhoun conditions Coyote Legend while all-time Lone Star training leader Steve Asmussen trains Skip a Smile.

Coyote Legend and Skip a Smile are 6-year-olds, but that is where the similarities end. Skip a Smile is much more accomplished on turf and has defeated Coyote Legend the last two times they have met on grass. Coyote Legend has had the upper hand when the two have met over the main track, however, winning their last three meetings on dirt. Heavy midweek rain has made it unclear which surface will host Saturday’s feature.

Glen Murphy will ride Skip a Smile while Coyote Legend will have Cliff Berry in the irons.