(Grand Prairie, Texas - Thursday, November 9, 2017) - Lone Star Park wraps its Fall Quarter Horse Season on Saturday, November 11. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. First race post time is 6:35 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids ages 4-12. Kids ages 3 and under are admitted free. In appreciation on Veterans Day, all veterans can receive one (1) free general admission by showing proof of service at admission booths.

Headlining the Saturday card is the 25th running of the $873,616 Texas Classic Futurity (G1). The 400-yard stakes is the richest race in the state and the premier race for two-year-old American Quarter Horses at the meet. It's the scheduled 10th race. Approximate post time is 10:47 p.m.

Trainer Trey Wood has won the Texas Classic Futurity a record four times (2010 and 2014-16). There's a good chance for the top trainer to win his fifth because he saddles five of the two-year-olds in this edition. However, this year's field is strong, and all have a chance at the top prize.

Given slight morning line favoritism at 5-2 is second-fastest qualifier Hotstepper. Trained by Sleepy Gilbreath, the gelded son of One Famous Eagle has won three of six starts this year. He qualified for both the Rainbow Futurity (8th) and All American Futurity (3rd). He won his trial to this by an impressive 1 1/2 lengths. He is owned in partnership by Johnny D. Cope, R. D. Hubbard, Rafter W. Stables, & Henry Southway. His regular rider, Cody Jensen, will ride.

Second choice at morning line odds of 7-2 is Cartel Cupid. Owned by Randy & Sandy Coleman and trained by Trey Wood, this gelded son of Corona Cartel has won three of four starts for the year. He won trials for both the Rainbow and All American Futurities but failed to qualify for either final. In the most recent of his three wins this year, he not only made the cut, but posted the fourth fastest time in the trials. He seeks his first stakes win in this. He was one of four qualifiers ridden by Ricky Ramirez in the trials and the one Ramirez has chosen to ride in the final.

One of two Leon Bard trainees in the race, This Is an Eagle was working with a perfect record until losing his trial by a head to the fastest qualifier. He won the Sam Houston Futurity (G2) as the betting favorite in April. He next went to Ruidoso, where he ran in trials for both the Rainbow and the All-American Futurities but failed to make the finals in either. Francisco Calderon has the mount in here for owner Mary G. Lynne Thompson. 

Jockey Roy Baldillez returns from retirement after being offered the mount on fastest qualifier Legacy Eagle. The gelding by One Famous Eagle was winless from four starts before clocking the fastest time winning his trial three weeks ago. In his one other start at Lone Star Park, the Dash for Cash Futurity trials, he was forced out at the start and was placed second from third because of a disqualification. He didn't make the final through no fault of his own. Legacy Eagle is owned by Johnny Trotter and Randy Geiselman and trained by Trey Wood.

The field for the 25th running of the $873,616 Texas Classic Futurity (G1) is:

1. Cartel Cupid - Ricky Ramirez, 7-2
2. Starfield – Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo, 20-1
3. This Is a Deal Too – James A. Flores, 8-1
4. Factual Basis – Russel Hadley, 12-1
5. Legacy Eagle – Roy Baldillez, 9-2
6. Streakin Seis Corona – Luis L. Vivanco, 15-1
7. Thecartelofmiracle – Manuel Gutierrez, 15-1
8. This Is an Eagle – Francisco Calderon, 4-1
9. Hotstepper – Cody Jensen, 5-2
10. Another Shot - Raul Ramirez, Jr., 15-1 

$384,355 Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby the Featured Eighth Race

Fastest qualifier Duponte leads the field for the Texas Classic Derby (G1), the scheduled eighth race. Approximate post time is 10:19 p.m.

Owned by Bobby D. Cox and Homero & Kristen Ashley Paredes, Duponte has qualified for and run in the Heritage Place Derby (4th), the Rainbow Derby (4th), and All American Derby (3rd). If he can repeat his performance in the trials, this could be his moment. Duponte is trained by Jimmy Padgett and will be ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo.

Paragon Farms LLC's High Plains Perry posted the second fastest clocking in the trials. Winner of last year's Texas Classic Futurity, he was third in the Ruidoso Derby in June and second in the Rainbow Derby in July. Another advantage is a perfect three-for-three record over the Lone Star Park surface. He is trained by Trey Wood and Ricky Ramirez will have the mount.

Here is the field for the 25th running of the $384,355 Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby:

1. Political Mess – Yordanis Amaro, 20-1
2. Tac My Time – James A. Flores, 4-1
3. Dash Quick Perry – Francisco Calderon, 12-1
4. Paint My Pilot – L. Salvador Martinez, 15-1
5. Graceful Eagle – Manuel Gutierrez, 10-1
6. High Plains Perry – Ricky Ramirez, 3-1
7. Corona Carmelita – Raul Ramirez, Jr., 15-1
8. Duponte – Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo, 2-1
9. Apolltical Chad – G. R. Carter, Jr., 6-1
10. Percyjones – Edwuin Lujan, 15-1

Texas Classic Juvenile Stakes the Featured Seventh Race

The field for the $ 45,979 Texas Classic Juvenile Stakes is:

1. Nymeria – Manuel Gutierrez, 12-1
2. Howey Winmor – Luis L. Vivanco, 30-1
3. Mighty Pants – Jimmy Dean Brooks, 12-1
4. Jess Jumpn Beau, Eddie Sanchez, 5-2
5. Hierarchy – Roy Baldillez, 15-1
6. Look One Time – Nestor Duran, 10-1
7. U R My Queen – Russel Hadley, 6-1
8. T Velocity – Cipriano Uscanga Vidana, 8-1
9. She Eat Fire – Ricky Ramirez, 2-1
10. Aqua Girl – Juan Francisco Garcia, Jr., 12-1

Pre-Race Handicapping Seminar with Turf Publicist Martha Claussen and Track Handicapper Rick Lee 

Lone Star Park is pleased to welcome Martha Claussen back to the track. She will be on hand to offer handicapping tips and information. She and Lone Star Park's track handicapper, Rick Lee, will be giving a pre-race handicapping seminar to share their thoughts and tips of the entire 11-race card Saturday. The seminar will begin at 5:30 p.m. when the gates open, so make plans to be there for all of the valuable information they will be sharing. The seminar will be on the first level of the Grandstand near the Racing Information counter.

Veterans Day Celebration Saturday at Lone Star Park

In observance of Veterans Day on Saturday, November 11, Lone Star Park will honor some of its employees that have served our country in the armed forces. They each have a race named after them on the program. They are: 

Race 1: Bo Roberts, Racing Information, US Army

Race 2: Tomas O’Brien, Manager Bar & Book, US Marine Corps

Race 4: Ron Moore, Security Sergeant, US Army

Race 5: Tim Giddens, Security Corporal, US Marine Corps

From everyone at Lone Star Park, a special "Thank You" to all veterans who served our country!

On the Track

Going into the final weekend of racing for the season, the standings for the jockeys, trainers and owners are, as of Saturday, November 4:

Jockey Ricky Ramirez has a four win advantage over Luis Vivanco at 23 to 19. In third place is Francisco Calderon, last year's leading rider, with 15 wins.

Trainer Trey Wood has pretty much cinched the title, and this will be the sixth title for Wood at Lone Star Park. He won the training title in 2009-2012 and 2015. Wood has 19 wins through Saturday, November 4, compared to Leon Bard in second, who has 12 going into this week. Jimmy Padgett holds third place with nine wins.

In the owner category, it's a three-way tie currently between Terry & Irene Stennett, HEH Holdings LLC, and Paragon Farms LLC. They each have six wins.