(Grand Prairie, Texas - Wednesday, April 20, 2011) - Saturday’s 15th running of $200,000 Texas Mile (G3), for 3-year-olds and upward, has attracted multiple graded stakes winner Friesan Fire, owned by Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm, and Grade 3 winner Thiskyhasnolimit, owned by Cathy and Bob Zollars and Mark Wagner, both are conditioned by Lone Star Park’s all-time leading trainer Steve Asmussen.

Friesan Fire, post-time favorite in the 2009 Kentucky Derby (G1), is a multiple graded stakes winner who has won five of 15 starts with $665,006 in earnings. Gabriel Saez, second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby with Eight Belles, and who has been aboard for all three of Friesan Fire’s graded stakes victories, ships in to ride.

Thiskyhasnolimit finished first in the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs in 2009 and most recently recorded a runner-up finish in the Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park. Thiskyhasnolimit has won four of 15 starts with earnings of $581,532. Justin Shepherd has the call.

Another of note in the Texas Mile, California invader Gladding. Owned by C R K Stables and trained by John Sadler, Gladding is a winner of three of 11 starts with $161,825 in earnings. A four-year-old son of 2002 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Sarava, Gladding was a gate-to-finish winner in the San Antonio Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita in February.

Scheduled as race eight on the ten-race program, the Texas Mile has an approximate post time of 4:51 p.m. CT.

The field from the rail out, with jockey and morning line odds listed in parenthesis, consists of: Kate’s Main Man (Cliff Berry, 6-1); Dreaminofthewin (Luis Quinonez, 15-1); Gladding (Jon Court, 6-5); Friesan Fire (Gabriel Saez, 8-1); and Thiskyhasnolimit (Justin Shepherd, 7-5).

Baltimore Bob Morning Line Favorite in Grand Prairie Turf Challenge

The 15th running of the one mile $50,00 Grand Prairie Turf Challenge, for three-year-olds an upward, scheduled to be run over turf, features Charles W. Fletcher’s Baltimore Bob, trained by Cody Autrey.

A winner of 10 of 30 starts with $337,265 in earnings, Baltimore Bob has recorded two wins from three starts in 2011. Well traveled, Baltimore Bob’s two most recent victories have been earned at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida and Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Louisiana. The six-year-old son of Malibu Moon has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite by track oddsmaker Rick Lee.

Scheduled as race seven of ten, the Grand Prairie Turf Challenge has an approximate post time of 4:23 p.m. CT.

The field from the rail out, with jockey and morning line odds listed in parenthesis, consists of: Alwayswithapproval (Junior Chacaltana, 12-1); Baltimore Bob (Cliff Berry, 9-5); Skip a Smile (Lindey Wade, 4-1); Deputiformer (Justin Shepherd, 8-1); Lee’s Spirit (Eguard Tejera, 5-1); McKenna’s Justice (Jose Medina, 15-1); and Snow Drift (Chris Landeros, 5-2).

Pleasantly Blessed Takes on Eleven in Irving Distaff

Pleasantly Blessed, owned and trained by Steve Asmussen, headlines the 15th running of the 7 ½-furlong $50,000 Irving Distaff, for fillies and mares, three-years-old and upward, scheduled to be run over turf.

From 21 starts, Pleasantly Blessed has recorded seven victories while amassing career earning of $276,356. Making her first start since February 12, 2010, Pleasantly Blessed seeks to give Asmussen his fourth win in the Irving Distaff (Paz Ciudadana - 2004, Euryanthe - 2001, and Heritage of Gold - 1999).

Scheduled as race nine on the ten-race program, the Irving Distaff has an approximate post time of 5:19 p.m. CT.

The field from the rail out, with jockey and morning line odds listed in parenthesis, consists of: Slide On Bye (Eguard Tejera, 9-2); Sheer Beauty (Jon Court, 20-1); Skedee (Justin Shepherd, 4-1); Ava Mae (Junior Chacaltana, 9-2); Pleasantly Blessed (Gabriel Saez, 3-1); Always in My Heart (Luis Quinonez, 8-1); Sugar Added (Bryan McNeil, 9-2); Dixieland Baby (Richard Eramia, 30-1); The Cat Who (Denny Velazquez, 10-1); No Other Tone (Chris Landeros, 7-2); Bella Diamante (Cliff Berry, 20-1); Floatnpastya (Jose Figueroa, 50-1).

This Weeks Events And Promotions At Lone Star Park

• Friday, April 22 – Party at the Park with Ali Dee. Join us in the Courtyard of Champions from 7 – 10 p.m. This week’s feature band, Prophets and Outlaws. $1 select beer plus cash and prize giveaways.
• Saturday, April 23 – Dollar Day! Enjoy $1 General Admission, Programs, Hot Dogs, Soft Drinks, Popcorn and Draft Beer.
• Sunday, April 24 – Easter Sunday features Family Fun Day. We will have a Super-Sized Family Fun Park open from 11:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. with carnival games, pony rides, a petting zoo, bounce houses, face painters, air brush tattoo artists, art & crafts, and more; Senior Citizens’ Day and Military Discount Day. All senior citizens’, age 62 or older with valid I.D., or members of any branch of the military, with a valid military I.D., receive free general admission; Pepsi can offer, bring any Pepsi can to Lone Star Park and receive a Pepsi track pack, good for one (1) Free General Admission and one (1) Free Large Pepsi; Jazz Brunch, an omelette station for $8.95 and a live Jazz Trio will perform in Silks dining room from noon – 3 p.m.

Lone Star Park’s 52-day 2011 Spring Thoroughbred Season will run four days a week every Thursday and Friday at 6:35 p.m. (except Thursday, June 2 and Thursday, July 7 when there will be no live racing), and Saturday and Sunday at 1:35 p.m. starting on April 14. The Lone Star Million Day program on Memorial Day will start at 1:35 p.m. and special twilight programs with post-race holiday fireworks on Sunday, July 3 and Monday, July 4 (Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration) will commence at 5 p.m.