(July 13, 2006) - Candy Ball, a winner in four of her last five starts for trainer Andy Leggio Jr., is the horse to beat in Saturday's $40,000 Fresa Stakes at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. The 4-year-old Lemon Drop Kid filly drew post position No. 9 in the field of 10 fillies and mares and was made the 5-2 favorite for the 1 1/16-mile turf test.

Candy Ball was victorious in a June 30 allowance/optional claiming race at Lone Star, defeating Truth by Ruth by a neck in 1:36.88 for one mile on turf. The Kentucky-bred, who is based in Louisiana, earned $20,400 for the win and brought her career earnings to $74,580 for owners Rancha Fresa Inc. Overall, she has won four of eight starts.
Jeffery Burningham, seventh in the Louisiana Downs jockey standings with 22 wins through Wednesday, will be in town for the mount.

To Candy Ball's outside will be 7-2 second choice My Misty Princess, the 2004 Lone Star stakes winner who has won once in four tries this meeting. Twice she was beaten a head after having the lead in the stretch. She was caught by stablemate Paz Ciudadana in the Irving Distaff on opening weekend and Rue des Reves in a June 15 allowance.

The Fresa field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Truth by Ruth (Roman Chapa, Danny Pish, 9-2); Go Girlfriend Go (Rita Helton, Clifford Bailey, 15-1); D Fine Okie (Don Pettinger, Donnie K. Von Hemel, 6-1); Bonnie J. (Filemon Rodriguez, Jack Young, 15-1); Cieli (Glen Murphy, Scott Blasi, 20-1); Nicks Nights (Cliff Berry, Bret Calhoun, 12-1); Tale of Freedom (Quincy Hamilton, Cody Autrey, 6-1); Bartok's Banco (Terry Stanton, Chris Hartman, 15-1); Candy Ball (Jeffery Burningham, Andy Leggio Jr., 5-2); and My Misty Princess (Justin Shepherd, Scott Blasi, 7-2).

The Fresa, which honors the winner of the inaugural Irving Distaff and Fort Worth Handicap (now known as the WinStar Distaff) in 1997, will be run as Race 10 at approximately 5:47 p.m. CT. The first of 11 live races is 1:35 p.m. CT.

SATURDAY DOUBLES AS DOLLAR DAY

Saturday will be the second Dollar Day of the Spring Thoroughbred Season. On sale for just $1 each will be beer, soft drinks, hot dogs, popcorn, sno-cones, general admission, general parking and programs. There also will be a bounce house for children located on the lawn in front of the Post Time Pavilion.

The popular promotion was inaugurated in 2004 and a crowd of 14,437 took advantage of the first Dollar Day this season on Texas Mile Day, Saturday, April 29.
Saturday also is the final Budweiser "True Music" Saturday of the meeting, featuring live music by InSide Out in the Courtyard of Champions between 12-4 p.m.

ONLY SEVEN DATES REMAIN

After Thursday night's races, only seven live racing dates remain at the Spring Thoroughbred Season. Closing day is Sunday, July 23.

BOOTS ON SUNDAY RE-RETIRED

Following his eighth-place finish in the $40,000 Carter McGregor Handicap on June 17, trainer Danny Pish has decided to re-retire crack sprinter Boots On Sunday. That effort was his first race in more than 3 1/2 years.

The final decision came after his half-mile breeze Sunday in :49 3/5.

"We gave it a try because he gave me the signs that he wanted to race again," Pish explained. "But now he's giving me the signs that he just doesn't quite have it. A sixteenth of a mile into the work, he just didn't feel like himself; he just didn't have that confidence that he used to have."

The 9-year-old blue-collar hero of the Southwest hangs it up sound with 14 wins, eight stakes triumphs and earnings of $417,965 in 36 starts. He'll return to life as stable pony at Pish's family farm.

"Boots and racing is like me and the bull riding," Pish said. "I'd still love to do it and I still think I can do it, but it's probably not a good idea."

JOCKEY BEAUTY PAGEANT ON WEDNESDAY TO AID INJURED AND DISABLED RIDERS

The male members of Lone Star Park's jockey colony will dress as women Wednesday night and compete in a beauty pageant to raise money for injured and disabled riders. The first Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund Dinner, Dance and Beauty Pageant will take place in Champions on the second floor of the Grandstand starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are just $20.

The charitable event - featuring a barbeque dinner, memorabilia auction, raffle for door prizes, dancing and cash bar - will showcase Lone Star's favorite jockeys adorned in dresses and elegant gowns as they compete for the, err, prestigious crown. "I have a couple of gowns to choose from, but I haven't decided just yet," jockey Quincy Hamilton said. "One thing's for certain -- I'll be tough to beat just like on the racetrack."

Guests also will discover the talents of Lone Star's leading rider when Cliff Berry and the Even-Money Band (with jockey Justin Shepherd on drums) provide the musical entertainment.

The $20 tickets can be purchased by calling Monica Davis at (972) 237-4801.

SIMULCAST CENTRAL: BUSY WEEKEND ON TAP NATIONALLY

Popular 4-year-old Lost in the Fog and Dubai Escapade, a winner of five straight head the Grade II Smile Sprint (sprinters) and Grade I Princess Rooney (female sprinters) handicaps, respectively - the highlights of Calder Race Course's $2 million Summit of Speed on Saturday. Lone Star-based trainer "Bubba" Cascio will challenge Lost in the Fog with swift Southwest sprinter Gold Storm, three-length winner of the Need For Speed Handicap at Evangeline Downs on June 3. Cascio is also bringing back 2005 TTA Sales Futurity runner-up Lord Vicar off a year layoff to face dual graded stakes winner Too Much Bling in the Grade II Carry Back (3-year-old sprinters)...

Grand Prairie Turf Challenge winner Kip Deville will get another try in a million-dollar race on Saturday at Colonial Downs. The 3-year-old, who was runner-up to Showing Up after setting a quick pace in the Colonial Turf Cup three weeks ago, will face Kentucky Derby third Steppenwolfer in the Grade II Virginia Derby at 1 π miles on turf. Also on the Colonial card is the $200,000 Virginia Oaks (turf 3-year-old fillies)...

A field of six 3-year-olds were entered for Saturday's Grade II, $350,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown, headed by the Todd Pletcher-trained High Cotton...
Lone Star Derby third Admiral's Arch and local allowance winner Doctor Decherd are entered in Saturday's $70,000 Forestry Stakes (3-year-olds) at Churchill Downs. Also on the Churchill Downs program is Grade III, $150,000 Locust Grove Handicap (turf fillies and mares). Admiral's Arch was also cross-entered in Saturday's $150,000 Round Table Stakes (3-year-olds) at Arlington Park...

Lone Star allowance winner Rue des Reves is entered in Saturday's $100,000 Lady Canterbury Breeders' Cup (turf fillies and mares) at Canterbury Park with Bobby Walker Jr. to ride...Also at Canterbury on Saturday is Claiming Crown 2006 - the unofficial celebration of the nation's claiming horses with seven stakes events cumulatively worth $600,000...

Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks champ Hysterical Lady tops the Grade II, $500,000 Delaware Oaks, and Honey Ryder, a winner in seven of her last nine starts, tops the $300,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial Breeders' Cup Handicap at Delaware Park on Saturday...

New York Breeders' Cup Handicap winner Noble Stella heads the Grade II Dance Smartly (turf fillies and mares) on Saturday at Woodbine.

BARBARO'S PROGNOSIS NOW "POOR"

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro has been beset by a severe case of laminitis in his left hind leg. The condition leaves Barbaro's chances for survival in great doubt.
"I'd be lying if I said anything but poor," said attending veterinarian Dr. Dean Richardson when asked about Barbaro's prognosis during a Thursday morning press conference at the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania. Barbaro has been at New Bolton ever since suffering multiple fractures in his right hind leg at the May 20 Preakness Stakes.

Laminitis is a potentially fatal inflammation of the foot that can be brought on by a number of causes, including excessive weight bearing. Barbaro's laminitis is almost certainly a result of putting too much weight on his left hind leg to compensate for his injured right hind leg.

Barbaro's pain is being managed and Richardson says he still looks very bright. "If you look at this horse, it would be very hard to put him down," Richardson said.
Richardson said that "all reasonable avenues" would be tried to save Barbaro. "As long as the horse is not suffering, we're going to continue to try," he said. "If he isn't comfortable, we will not continue."

DOWN THE STRETCH - With two weeks remaining, Steve Asmussen, who began to serve a six-month suspension for a Louisiana medical violation on Monday, had a 55 to 49 lead over Bret Calhoun in the Lone Star trainer standings. Cody Autrey was just one win behind Calhoun...Jerry and Sandy Heflin of Rockwall, Texas have kicked three clear of four-time champ Tom Durant in the race to be leading owner, 16 wins to 13. Carl Moore Management was third with 10 wins...Cliff Berry appears well on his way to a second Lone Star riding title with a comfortable 89-73 lead over Quincy Hamiltion in the jockey standings...Hamilton will attempt to equal Eddie Martin Jr.'s 2003 record of eight stakes wins in a single Lone Star Park season aboard Tale of Freedom in the Fresa Stakes...Through the first 13 weeks of the 15-week season, favorites won 37% of the time. Over the last two weeks, they've won 44 of the 89 races - a lofty 49.4% win clip...The music of Scott Whitaker will highlight Friday's "Party at the Park" in the Courtyard of Champions between 7-11 p.m. The event also features $1.75 Bud Light cans...Sunday is Senior Citizen's Day with free admission for patrons 62 and up with proof of identification.