(June 29, 2007) - Eddie Martin Jr., Lone Star Park's 2004 riding champ and sixth all-time leading jockey, returned to Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie on Friday night with a vengeance. The 43-year-old New Orleans native piloted 80-1 longshot Wish Again to a narrow neck victory in the first race and paid $167.40 to win.

"It's great to back," said Martin, who had been riding in Kentucky and New York since 2005. "I can't believe she was 80-1! I rode her just like the gallop boy said he rode her in the mornings."

Martin, the 28-year veteran who notched his 3,000th career win in December, picked up the mount at Wednesday morning's post position draw when regular rider Eguard Tejera opted to ride I Love to Say Yes. "We were open and said 'Sure, we'll ride,'" said Doug Davis, who is booking Martin's mounts at Lone Star.

After a solid eighth-place finish in the Aqueduct jockey standings with 48 wins from 456 mounts (10.5%) between Oct. 25 and April 29, Martin didn't fare as well at Belmont, winning just four of 114 mounts (3.5%) through Sunday.

"With arriving so late, my goal over the next month is to get a head start on the Remington Park meeting (which opens August 2 - four days after the conclusion of the Lone Star meeting on July 29)," Martin said. "I've been getting on horses in the morning and reacquainting with old friends."

Martin, who shares the Lone Star Park record of 22 career stakes wins with Corey Lanerie, ranks sixth in career wins at the Grand Prairie racetrack and could easily move into fourth by season's end. The all-time local leaders are Cliff Berry (506), Lanerie (477), Roman Chapa (312), Ronald Ardoin (281), Casey Lambert (281) and Martin (280).

Amazingly, the majority of Martin's lofty Lone Star win total was amassed in only four seasons in which he rode the entire meet: 1998 (28 wins), '99 (58), 2003 (85) and '04, where he won his only local title with 87 victories. He also rode some winners during the 2000 and '05 meetings.

FORTY GRAMS HEADS SATURDAY'S $100,000 ALYSHEBA BREEDERS' CUP

The Steve Asmussen-trained Forty Grams, third in the Grade II Lexington Stakes and Grade III Lone Star Derby, is the 8-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's 11th running of the $100,000 Alysheba Breeders' Cup Stakes. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds tops a stakes doubleheader at Lone Star Park that also includes the $50,000 Lone Star Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

Forty Grams, a two-time winner and $223,175-earner in nine career starts for owners Alan Pesch, George Bolton and Fog City Stables, finished fifth in the Grade II Ohio Derby at Thistledown earlier this month. This winter at Fair Grounds, the Distorted Humor colt was a 13-length allowance winner over one mile.

Veteran rider Cliff Berry will take over the riding duties because Asmussen's number one Lone Star jockey Luis Quinonez is riding the trainer's More Than Regal in the Grade II Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Breeders' Cup Handicap. Quinonez also has the mount aboard the Donnie K. Von Hemel-trained Brownie Points, runner-up in the Grade III Ouija Board Handicap at Lone Star, in the $125,000 Iowa Distaff Breeders' Cup.

Also entered in the Alysheba were attract two-time allowance winner Crosstown from the barn of leading trainer Bret Calhoun and Northern Spur Breeders' Cup champ Takedown, another Asmussen trainee.

Here's the complete Alysheba Breeders' Cup Stakes field from the rail out (with jockeys, trainers and morning line odds): Gold Wonder (Ramsey Zimmerman, Kamal Sheena, 12-1); Crosstown (Bobby Walker Jr., Calhoun, 3-1); Cherokee Wind (Richard Eramia, Joe Lucas, 12-1); Hadacure (Eddie Martin Jr., Joe Petalino, 10-1); Forty Grams (Cliff Berry, Steve Asmussen, 8-5); Takedown (Glen Murphy, Asmussen, 4-1); Game of Skill (Justin Shephed, Chris Hartman, 20-1); and Strong City (Quincy Hamilton, Von Hemel, 8-1).

Asmussen will attempt to win the race for a record fourth time. The 41-year-old previously won the race with Abajo (1999), Overdone (2000) and Santana Strings (2005).

The Alysheba will run as Race 9 at approximately 5:19 p.m. CT on a 10-race card that begins at 1:35 p.m. CT.

The Lone Star Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for 3-year-old fillies headed by Asmussen's stakes winner Nice Inheritance, will run one race earlier as Race 8 at approximately 4:51 p.m. CT. The field from the rail out: Nice Inheritance (Shepherd, Asmussen, 2-1); Katys Gold Touch (Eguard Tejera, John Locke, 8-1); Alice Belle (Eramia, Locke, 8-1); Black Giraffe (Rico Flores, Tim Dixon, 20-1); Kid Majic (Berry, Allen Milligan, 20-1); Not in My House (Larry Taylor, Mike Mareina, 3-1); Stage Stop (Tony McNeil, Cheryl Asmussen, 6-1); She's Outrageous (Zimmerman, Hartman, 10-1); Plan Nine (Iram Diego, Joe Offolter, 12-1); and Hart's Sunset (Murphy, Bob Schultz, 6-1). The Locke-trained duo of Katys Gold Touch and Alice Belle will run coupled.

WEEKEND SIMULCASTS - This weekend's simulcasts are highlighted by 10 graded stakes, including Saturday's Grade I, $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (3-year-olds and up at 1 ¼ miles) at Hollywood Park and a Grade I stakes doubleheader from Belmont Park: the $400,000 Suburban Handicap (3-year-olds and up at 1 ¼ miles) and $250,000 Mother Goose (3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles). Also scheduled on Saturday: the Grade II, $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Breeders' Cup Handicap (3-year-olds & up at 1 1/8 miles); the Grade II, $250,000 Firecracker Breeders' Cup Stakes (3-year-olds and up at one mile on turf) from Churchill Downs; and the Grade II, $250,000 American Handicap (3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf) from Hollywood. Sunday's action is topped by Hollywood's Grade II, $150,000 Beverly Hills Handicap (fillies and mares at 1 ¼ miles on turf).

$25,000 HORSESHOE PITCH BETWEEN RACES SATURDAY - Entry blanks to participate in the $25,000 100.3 JACK FM Horseshoe Pitch between races Saturday will be distributed at admission gates until the 2 p.m. contest deadline. After the sixth race on the main track, six contestants - three JACK FM listeners and three in attendance at Lone Star that afternoon - will get one try at a regulation ringer on the fly worth $25,000.

OLDIES, BLUES BY FARSIDE BAND BETWEEN RACES SATURDAY - Farside Band will perform oldies and blues music Saturday between 12-4 p.m. on the Courtyard of Champions stage. Also, 100.3 JACK FM will be on hand for a special promotional appearance.

SENIOR CITIZEN'S DAY - Sunday is Senior Citizen's Day where all patrons age 62 and up will receive free general admission with proof of identification.

SHEPHERD, ZIMMERMAN ON THE ROAD FOR STAKES ENGAGEMENTS - Jockey Justin Shepherd will be on the road July 4 and July 7 for engagements in Grade III, $100,000 events for 2-year-olds, according to agent Scott Hare. He'll ride the Allen Milligan-trained colt Kinetic Motion in the July 4 Hollywood Juvenile Championship to be run over six furlongs at Hollywood Park, and filly Miss Missile, owned and trained by Charlie Smith, in the July 7 Debutante Stakes, a 5 ½-furlong sprint on closing day at Churchill Downs. Kinetic Motion was runner-up to Namesake as the 6-5 favorite in the colts and geldings division of the TTA Sales Futurity. Miss Missile finished a troubled fourth as the even-money favorite in the fillies division. Prior to that, Miss Missile ran the fastest 4 ½ furlongs in Lone Star Park history (:51.18) in her career debut April 28 and followed the effort with a victory in a TTA Sales Futurity trial over five furlongs in :58.61 which earned the largest Beyer Speed Figure by a 2-year-old filly in the history of Lone Star Park's Spring Thoroughbred Season (88). Hare also reported that leading rider Ramsey Zimmerman will be in Chicago on July 4 to ride Cloudy's Knight, winner of the Grade III Fair Grounds Breeders' Cup this winter, in Arlington Park's Grade III, 200,000 Stars and Stripes Breeders' Cup Turf at 1 ½ miles on grass.

PAST ALYSHEBA BREEDERS' CUP STAKES WINNERS: Past winners of the Alysheba Breeders' Cup Stakes: Thatsusintheolbean (1997), Custer (1998), Abajo (1999), Overdone (2000), Touch Tone (2001), Premeditation (2002), Kool Humor (2003), Charming Socialite (2004), Santana Strings (2005) and His Eyes (2006). This will be the second year in a row that the race will be run at one mile (it was a sprint between six and seven furlongs from 1997-2005). As a result, His Eyes holds the stakes record of 1:37.71. The average winning Beyer Speed Figure is 96. Trainer Steve Asmussen has won the race a record three times with Abajo, Overdone and Santana Strings.

PAST LONE STAR OAKS WINNERS: Past winners of the Lone Star Oaks: Tassa (1997), Cinemine (1998), Mumtaz (1999), Watch (2000), La Recherche (2001), La Martina-GB (2002), Petionville Indeed (2003), America America (2004), Victory Lap (2005) and Aly's Vow (2006). Tassa holds the stakes record of 1:41.11. The average winning Beyer Speed Figure is 90.

SPECIAL LONE STAR PARK RACING SCHEDULE (JUNE 30-JULY 8)

· Saturday, June 30: First Live Race at 1:35 p.m. CT
· Sunday, July 1: First Live Race at 1:35 p.m. CT
· Monday, July 2: No live racing, but simulcast wagering in Post Time Pavilion
· Tuesday, July 3 (Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration): First Live Race at 5 p.m. CT
· Wednesday, July 4 (Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration): First Live Race at 5 p.m. CT
· Thursday, July 5: First Live Race at 6:35 p.m. CT
· Friday, July 6: First Live Race at 6:35 p.m. CT
· Saturday, July 7 (Stars of Texas Day): First Live Race at 6:35 p.m. CT
· Sunday, July 8: First Live Race at 6:35 p.m. CT

SATURDAY, JUNE 30 AT A GLANCE

· 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Drive Thru Wagering at Gate 2

· 10:25 a.m. - Parking Gates 1-5, Post Time Pavilion and Jockey Club Lounge (private) open

· 11:30 a.m. - Grandstand opens

· 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Live music in the Courtyard of Champions by Farside Band

· 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. - Lone Star Park Handicapping Seminar with The Dallas Morning News' Rick Lee and Lone Star Park track announcer John Lies on the first floor of the Grandstand (and public address system/television monitors)

· 1:35 p.m. - The first of 10 live races at Lone Star Park

· 2 p.m. - Deadline to enter $25,000 100.3 JACK FM Horseshoe Pitch

· 3:43 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade I, $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes (3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles) from Belmont Park (Race 8); features Octave, Lady Joanne and Boca Grande

· 3:49 p.m. - Simulcast of Race 8 at Churchill Downs, the start of a $100,000-guaranteed Late Pick 4 pool

· 3:53 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade III, $150,000 Boiling Springs Handicap (3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf) from Monmouth Park (Race 9); features Rutherienne, Sharp Susan, Red Birkin and More Than a Feelin

· Approximately 4 p.m. - $25,000 100.3 JACK FM Horseshoe Pitch on the main track

· 4:06 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade II, $250,000 American Invitational Handicap (3-year-olds & up at 1 1/8 miles on turf) from Hollywood Park (Race 5); features The Tin Man and Willow O Wisp

· 4:36 p.m. - Simulcast of Race 6 from Hollywood Park, the start of a $400,000-guaranteed Pick 6 pool

· 4:15 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade I, $400,000 Suburban Handicap (3-year-olds & up at 1 ¼ miles) from Belmont Park (Race 9); features Corinthian, Fairbanks, Hesanoldsalt and Political Force

· 4:51 p.m. - 11th running of the $50,000 Lone Star Oaks (3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf) from Lone Star Park (Race 8); features Nice Inheritance and Not in My House

· 4:51 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade II, $250,000 Firecracker Handicap (3-year-olds & up at one mile on turf) from Churchill Downs (Race 10); features Brilliant, Remarkable News-VEN and Dallas Turf Cup runner-up Crested-GB

· 5:19 p.m. - 11th running of the $100,000 Alysheba Breeders' Cup Stakes (3-year-olds at one mile) from Lone Star Park (Race 9); features Forty Grams, Crosstown and Takedown

· 5:38 p.m. - Simulcast of Race 8 from Hollywood Park, the start of a $300,000-guaranteed Late Pick 4 pool

· 6:50 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade I, $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (3-year-olds & up at 1 ¼ miles) from Hollywood Park (Race 10); features Lava Man, Molengao-BRZ, A.P. Excellent, A.P. Arrow and Wilko

· 9:25 p.m. - Simulcast of the $125,000 Iowa Distaff Breeders' Cup Stakes (fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles) from Prairie Meadows (Race 7); features Leah's Secret, Soul Search, Plaid and Ouija Board Handicap runner-up Brownie Points

· 10 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade II, $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Breeders' Cup Handicap (3-year-olds & up at 1 1/8 miles) from Prairie Meadows (Race 8); features Patriot Act, Texas Mile champ Silent Pleasure, Lone Star Park Handicap third Jonesboro and Dallas Turf Cup Handicap fourth More Than Regal