(Tuesday, November 15, 2005) - Athena Raquel, a three-time stakes winner in 2005, was made the 3-1 favorite against nine other fillies and mares for Friday's $20,000 Kool Kue Baby Handicap at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

The 400 yard race, which honors the American Quarter Horse racing mare who won a record 25 stakes events from 1994-2000, will go as Race 12 on a 13-race program that begins at 5 p.m. CT.

S A Ranch's Athena Raquel, a 5-year-old Mr Jess Perry mare that has won 10 races and $145,502 in 25 starts, will face Rheudasil Handicap fifth Lady Eye Opener and the second and third place finishers in Blue Ribbon Downs' Black Gold Derby, High Shake and Algonquin, respectively. Also in the field is Retama Derby third Tooting Otoole.

Here's the complete Kool Kue Baby field from the rail out (with jockey, assigned weight and morning line odds): Pump It Up (Juan Vazquez, 123, 20-1); High Shake (Jose Vega, 124, 9-2); Maid It Special (David Brown, 123, 15-1); Tooting Otoole (James Brooks, 123, 6-1); Athena Raquel (Rodrigo Vallejo, 125, 3-1); Threadbare Gypsysoul (Tad Leggett, 123, 10-1); Algonquin (Larry Payne, 124, 5-1); Shesastreakinlady (Jose Alvarez, 123, 15-1); Kissmeifyoucatchme (Patrick Dunn, 123, 15-1); and Lady Eye Opener (Jacky Martin, 123, 4-1).

The Kool Kue Baby is one of two stakes events this week at Lone Star. On Saturday, 3-year-olds and up will be tested over the 870-yard marathon distance in the Grade 3, $20,000 Lone Star Park Distance Championship. Run and Pray, the AQHA World Champion Distance Horse of 2004 and 1 ¼-length winner of the $17,500 Red River Handicap on Oct. 14, is an expected entry by owner Bobby Cox of Fort Worth and trainer John Buchanan. No horse has ever won both distance races at Lone Star. Run and Pray came the closest in 2003 when he won the Red River and finished second in that year's Distance Championship.

WEEKEND SIMULCAST HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday's $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash, a Grade I, six-furlong sprint at Laurel Park, tops the week's simulcast action. Attila's Storm and Elusive Jazz, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, are among the likely starters. Also on tap Saturday are Churchill Downs' Grade III, $150,000 Cardinal Handicap (fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf); Aqueduct's Grade III, $100,000 Stuyvesant Handicap (3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles); Hollywood Park's Grade III, $100,000 Hollywood Prevue (2-year-olds at seven furlongs); Laurel's Grade III, $100,000 Laurel Futurity (2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf); opening day of the special 37-day Fair Grounds at Louisiana Downs meeting; and eight stakes that comprise Stars of Texas Night at Sam Houston, including the $100,000 Star of Texas Stakes (Texas-breds at 1 1/16 miles)...Sunday's simulcast highlights are Churchill's Grade III, $150,000 River City Handicap (3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf) and Aqueduct's Grade III, $100,000 Valley Stream Stakes (2-year-old fillies at six furlongs).

QUALIFIERS TO THE $1 MILLION TEXAS CLASSIC FUTURITY - The finalists to the Grade 1, $1 million Texas Classic Futurity, a 400-yard dash for 2-year-olds on Saturday, Nov. 26 (with final time in Nov. 12 trial, jockey, trainer, owner and sire): Lazy E Futurity winner Pyc Paint Your Wagon (:19.804, Jacky Martin, Jack Brooks, Michael Pohl, Corona Cartel), Retama Park Futurity third Memories On the Run (:19.853, Raul Ramirez, Frank Ramirez, Eusevio Huitron, Leaving Memories); undefeated Automatically (:19.882, Gilbert Ortiz, Heath Taylor, Teddy Abrams Jr., Streakin La Jolla); Oklahoma Futurity runner-up Real Visions (:19.898, David Brown, Jody Brown, Enemesia Baltierrez, Streakin La Jolla); All American Futurity third Brindis Por Cayenne (:19.930, Freddie Martinez, John Stinebaugh, K.C. Carden, Toast to Dash); Exclusive Corona (:19.969, Manuel Garcia, Roberto Madrigal, Jason Eberle, Corona Cartel); All American Futurity 10th-place finisher Vodka On Ice (:19.969, Jose L. Santos, Hector Rodriguez, Hacienda Los Dorados, Stoli); Lazy E Futurity runner-up Enticilizeur (:20.031, Larry Payne, Eddie Willis, Wayne Wood and Clarence Pruitt, Make It Anywhere); Valley Junction Futurity winner Ja Fast Lady (:20.061, Jose Vega, Verle Bohner, Bill Price, Heza Fast Man); and Mr Perry To You (:20.070, Jacky Martin, John Buchanan, Sylvia Shaw Pitman, Mr Jess Perry). The prize money: $434,478 (first); $215,437 (second); $107,718 (third); $53,859 (fourth); $43,087 (fifth); $32,316 (sixth); and $29,623 (seventh through 10th).

QUALIFIERS TO THE $332,869 TEXAS CLASSIC DERBY - The finalists to the Grade 1, $332,869 Texas Classic Derby, a 440-yard race for 3-year-olds on Friday, Nov. 25 (with final time in Nov. 11 trial, jockey, trainer, owner and sire): Heza Native Man (:21.589, G.R. Carter Jr., Earl Armstrong, Jim Crouch, Heza Fast Man); San Houston and Dash For Cash Derby runner-up First Comment (:21.682, Rodrigo Vallejo, Jeff Acuna, J.W. Owens, First Place Dash); eight-straight winner Si Puede (:21.728, Jose Vega, Dave Correll, Lukin Gilliand, Holland Ease); Surprisingly Special (:21.758, James Brooks, Judd Kearl, Bennie and Teresa Jeter, Special Depth); Astrikingresemblance (:21.800, Rodrigo Vallejo, Frank Ramirez, Mauro Lozano, Streakin La Jolla); Streakin South Tong (:21.840, Gilbert Ortiz, Bobby Moore Jr., Betty and Bob Moore, Streakin La Jolla); Dash For Cash Derby third Winners Award (:21.879, Tad Leggett, Thomas Zarate, Jerry Windham, Runaway Winner); Dash For Cash Derby winner Mighty Invictus (:21.891, Juan Vazquez, Jack Brooks, You and Me Partners and Jim and Marilyn Helzer); Sizzlin Red Corona (:21.934, Rodger Smith, Guy Hopkins, Edward Vanee, Ron Sakamoto and Darcy Edwards, Fishers Dash); and Net Sum Gain (:22.001, Roy Baldillez, "Sleepy" Gilbreath, Jim and Marilyn Helzer, Mr Jess Perry). The prize money: $148,127 (first); $73,231 (second); $36,616 (third); $16,643 (fourth); $13,315 (fifth); $9,986 (sixth); $9,154 (seventh and eighth); and $8,322 (ninth and 10th).

QUALIFIERS TO THE $80,789 TEXAS CLASSIC FUTURITY CONSOLATION - Eligible for the $80,789 Texas Classic Futurity Consolation, a 400-yard dash for 2-year-olds on Saturday, Nov. 26 (with final time in Nov. 12 trial): Azoomer (:20.078); Cotton Nash (:20.078); Shazoomer (:20.079); MJP Loop (:20.082); Silver Gol (:20.082); Sis B Gol (:20.084); Copacorona Special (:20.094); Heza Caliente Hombre (:20.098); Streakin Graffiti (:20.098); and Boknaai (:20.102). The prize money: $21,544 (first); $18,851 (second); $16,158 (third); $13,465 (fourth); and $10,772 (fifth).

DOWN THE STRETCH - 54-year-old "Diamond Jim" Brooks entered the final two weeks of the Fall Meeting of Champions with a commanding 37-28 lead over Rodrigo Vallejo in the Lone Star jockey standings, sponsored by McDonalds. Dewey Smith was third (20 wins), Roy Baldillez ranked fourth (19) and Larry Payne was fifth (16)...Jeff Acuna had a two win advantage over John Buchanan, "Sleepy" Gilbreath, Eddie Willis and Jesse Yoakum - 12 victories to 10 - in the McDonalds trainer standings...A.D. Maddox had an 8-6 lead over J.W. Owens and Raul Rubalcava in the owner standings...On closing week, there will be no live racing on Wednesday, Nov. 23 or Thursday, Nov. 24 due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but Lone Star's Post Time Pavilion will be open for simulcast wagering. Live racing will resume Friday, Nov. 25 with a Grade 1 stakes doubleheader - the $332,869 Texas Classic Derby for 3-year-olds at 440 yards and the $100,000 Refrigerator Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 440 yards. The $1 million Texas Classic Futurity for 2-year-olds at 400 yards highlights the Saturday, Nov. 26 program. Also on the card is the $80,789 Texas Classic Futurity Consolation. The special closing day 1:35 p.m. CT matinee program on Sunday, Nov. 27 features a pair of $15,000 stakes for 2-year-olds at 400 yards: the Hipodromo de las Americas for colts and geldings and the Joe B. Turner Memorial for fillies. All other racing programs begin at 5 p.m. CT.