News and Notes for May 4, 2017

TEXAS CONNECTIONS IN KENTUCKY DERBY AND OAKS RACES, UNDERCARDS
On Friday, Steve Asmussen will send out Ever So Clever (KY) in the $1-million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Gr. I). In the $200,000 Eight Belles Stakes, he will saddle Golden Mischief (KY) for Texans Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt.  Asmussen also trains Emerald Pond (KY), who is in race #4 on the undercard, and Friend of Liberty (KY) in race #12 for Kirk and Judy Robison of El Paso.

In the $400,000 Alysheba Stakes, Bret Calhoun will saddle Fish Trappe Road (NY) for Martin Racing Stable LLC (Bill Martin) of Dallas.  In race #3 on the undercard, Calhoun has Daria’s Angel (KY) for Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch, also of Dallas. Crimson Frost is owned by Sam F. Henderson of Odessa.

Texas trainer J. R. Caldwell has Pageant Material (KY) for owner Agave Racing Stable (Mark Martinez) of San Antonio in race #1 on the undercard.  In race #9 Vaporman (KY) is owned by Susan Moulton of San Antonio and Taketothestreets is owned by Eileen Hartis of Seeley.

Brad Grady’s Girvin (KY) will run in the $2-million Kentucky Derby on Saturday.  Girvin is the points leader in the race and has odds of 15/1.

Steve Asmussen is listed as the trainer of record for three Kentucky-breds in the Derby: Hence (15-1), Lookin at Lee (20-1) and Untrapped (30-1).

He also trains several horses in the Derby undercard, including Carve (KY) in race #3, Local Hero (KY) in race #8, the $250,000 Pat Day Mile, and Hard Scramble (KY) in race #13.

Also in the Pat Day Mile, Joseph W. Sutton owns Bitumen (KY) and Colonelsdarktemper (KY) is owned by A. J. Foyt Jr.

In race #2, Jim McIngvale bred Underpressure (LA) and Bret Calhoun trains Awesome Saturday (KY).

Mindy Lovell trains Sky Flight (KY) for Rick Penn’s Penn Family Racing in race #5.

In race #7, the $300,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, Mississippi Delta (KY) is owned by Mike Rutherford and Terry Green. Harmonize is owned by Larkin Armstrong of Kingsville.

STEVE SEXTON MILE ON TAP THIS WEEKEND AT LONE STAR
The $200,000 Steve Sexton Mile (Gr. III) has drawn a field of nine, including two Accredited Texas-breds.

Listed at 12/1 is Texas Chrome (Grasshopper – Margarita Mistress), bred by Craig Upham and trained by J. R. Caldwell for Keene Thoroughbreds LLC (Danny Keene). The multiple graded stakes winner’s only out this year was the Gr. II Oaklawn Handicap on April 15th, in which he finished 6th after being last to leave the gate.

F J Uncle Vic (Uncle Abbie – Let Her Reign) is listed at 30/1. The 6-year-old graded stakes placed gelding was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Prifitera and is trained by Terry Eoff, who owns him in partnership with Johnny Evans.  F J Uncle Vic most recently finished fourth in the Premiere Stakes on April 20th.

NOTES: Be sure to check out the nice article in the April 29 edition of Blood-Horse on Dallas and Donna Keen…Proceeds from the 2017 Texas 2-Year-Old Sale are set to mail by the end of this week.  If you have any questions, please contact Cheri Grant in the TTA office…If you would like a consignment form for the 2017 Texas Summer Yearling and Mixed Sale, they can be downloaded from the website at www.ttasales.com/forms or you may request one from the TTA office… Beginning Friday, May 5, I will be on vacation and returning to the office on Monday, May 15th.  I will be out of the country, so in my absence, please contact Jennifer or Cheri in the TTA office at 512.458.6133.