(May 23, 2007) - Regional stakes star Silent Pleasure, who beat Bob and John by a neck in last month's Grade III Texas Mile for his fourth consecutive stakes win, will return to Texas for Monday's Grade III, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap - the marquee event on Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie's ninth annual Lone Star Million.

The Lone Star Million - six stakes races, including a trio of Grade III events, cumulatively worth more than $1 million in prize money - is Texas' richest annual day of horse racing. Monday's 11-race holiday program will begin at 1:35 p.m. CT and grandstand gates will open at 11:30 a.m.

While horses from Kentucky, California, New York and Florida fly to Texas on H.E. "Tex" Sutton Forwarding Co. charter flights Friday, Saturday and Sunday, trainer Howard Scarberry will van Silent Pleasure from his Louisiana base at Evangeline Downs to Lone Star Park on Friday.

Silent Pleasure, who'll attempt to join Dixie Dot Com (2001) as a Texas Mile-Lone Star Park Handicap champ, will once again face California-based Bob and John, winner of last year's Grade I Wood Memorial for trainer Bob Baffert, as well as Sweetnorthernsaint, the Maryland-based runner who was favored in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Preakness Stakes after a romping victory in the 2006 Illinois Derby.

Jonesboro, the 5 ¾-length winner of the Grade III Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park this winter, is also a likely starter and will be ridden by Calvin Borel, the regular jockey for Kentucky Derby champ Street Sense. Real Dandy, the $951,704-earner from the Steve Asmussen barn, and the Bart Evans-trained Almost Certain are also candidates.

Both Borel and Asmussen, Lone Star Park's all-time leading trainer who saddled Curlin to a head victory over Street Sense in Saturday's Preakness Stakes, have agreed to partake in a free autograph session before Monday's races from 12-1 p.m. inside Lone Star Park's East Gate Entrance.

Perfect Drift, the 8-year-old winner of more than $4.6 million, is also under consideration for the Lone Star Park Handicap, according to Lone Star Park stakes coordinator Mike Shamburg, but appears more likely for Hollywood Park's Grade II, $250,000 Californian at 1 1/8 miles on June 2. Another said to be on the fence is the Neil Howard-trained Student Council, who won the MAXXAM Gold Cup Handicap this winter at Sam Houston Race Park.

Frenchman Patrick Biancone, who raided last year's Lone Star Million with six entrants, has just one this year, but she's the likely favorite for the Grade III, $200,000 Ouija Board Handicap (formerly known as the WinStar Distaff). The much-heralded Lady of Venice, regarded by many as the second-best 3-year-old filly on turf in 2006 behind Wait a While, prepped for Monday's one-mile turf race with a one-length victory at Keeneland against allowance competition on April 22. She'll be challenged by multiple stakes winners Brownie Points and Rich Fantasy, as well as the Irving Distaff top two finishers Carolina Sky and My Three Sisters.

Garrett Gomez, who led all jockeys in money-won last year with more than $20.1 million, will be in town to ride Bob and John and Lady of Venice, according to agent Ron Anderson.

Trial by Jury, upset winner of last year's Grade III, $200,000 Dallas Turf Cup Handicap for trainer Bruce Jackson, will be back to defend his title in the 1 1/8-mile grass race, which will be held on Lone Star Million Day for the first time. Crested, an English-bred 4-year-old from the Wally Dollase barn, is expected to be a top contender after winning a Churchill Downs allowance on April 29. Waupaca, who won his fourth race over the Lone Star Park turf course two weeks ago, is expected to start in the race for the fourth consecutive year.

The $100,000 Valid Expectations Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, is expected to feature undefeated Moroccan Rose, who'll be tested against stakes company for the first time after winning her first three starts by 19 ½ lengths. Her competition should include stakes veterans True Tails, Starry Pie and Iowa invader Seekingthereinbow, who has won eight of her 10 starts.

Wrenice, the Texas-bred champion who has prevailed in seven of her 11 starts, will test the $100,000 Stonerside Stakes at seven furlongs. Other 3-year-old fillies expected to run include Instant Racing Breeders' Cup Stakes winner Cream Only from the Asmussen outfit and Grade II-placed Changeisgonnacome from the barn of Sweetnorthernsaint's trainer Michael Trombetta. Meanwhile, the top three 3-year-olds from the April 28 Grand Prairie Turf Challenge - Beta Capo, Western Prize and Going Ballistic - are scheduled for a rematch in the $100,000 Pin Oak Stud USA Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Entries for the Lone Star Million will be taken Saturday morning, followed by the post position draw in the racing office, which is located in the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Pavilion this season. The placement and order of the six stakes races will be determined at Saturday's draw.

ASMUSSEN BACK THURSDAY NIGHT; TO BE SALUTED BY LONE STAR

Steve Asmussen, Lone Star Park's all-time leading trainer who saddled Curlin to victory in Saturday's 132nd Preakness Stakes, will return to Lone Star Park on Thursday night after spending the last three days in Louisville, Ky. Asmussen has seven horses entered at Lone Star on Thursday, including Valid Lilly (Race 3), Surfboard (Race 3), Swamp Gator (Race 5), Value System (Race 5) and Soar Above (Race 7) in trials for the fillies division of the $100,000 TTA Sales Futurity. Asmussen has won the race a record seven times. The finals will be held on Saturday, June 9 - the same day Curlin will start in the 138th Belmont Stakes. Trials for the colts and gelding division will be held Friday night. Lone Star Park officials will salute Asmussen's Preakness Stakes victory in the winner's circle after Thursday night's first race.

LONE STAR MILLION CHAIR GIVEAWAY

All customers with a paid admission to Lone Star Park on Memorial Day will receive a free Lone Star Million folding quad chair. The handy forest green canvas chairs - complete with a carrying case - are free with a $3 general admission while supplies last. Grandstand gates open at 11:30 a.m. and the first of 11 live races is 1:35 p.m.

LONE STAR PARK HANDICAP EARLY KNOWN CANDIDATES

Bob and John (Garrett Gomez, Bob Baffert, 120); Silent Pleasure (Tracy Hebert, Howard Scarberry, 120); Sweetnorthernsaint (Mario Pino, Michael Trombetta Jr., 120); Jonesboro (Calvin Borel, Randy Morse, 117); Real Dandy (TBA, Steve Asmussen, 114); and Almost Certain (TBA, Bart Evans, 113).

DALLAS TURF CUP HANDICAP EARLY KNOWN CANDIDATES

Waupaca (TBA, Donnie K. Von Hemel, 116); Crested-GB (Shaun Bridgmohan, Wally Dollase, 115); More Than Regal (TBA, Steve Asmussen, 114); Trial by Jury (TBA, Bruce Jackson, 114); and Brego (TBA, Bruce Jackson, 113).

OUIJA BOARD HANDICAP EARLY KNOWN CANDIDATES

Brownie Points (TBA, Donnie K. Von Hemel, 118); Lady of Venice-FR (Garrett Gomez, Patrick Biancone, 118); Rich Fantasy (Calvin Borel, Ronny Werner, 117); Carolina Sky (TBA, Morris Nicks, 116); My Three Sisters (TBA, Steve Asmussen, 115); Peace Symbol (TBA, Bob Leonard, 112); and Prosepctors Spirit (TBA, Michael Gass II, 112).

VALID EXPECTATIONS STAKES EARLY KNOWN CANDIDATES

Annie Savoy (TBA, Kari Craddock); Kat Nan Do (Calvin Borel, Cody Autrey); Morrocan Rose (TBA, Frank Betancourt); Seekingthereinbow (TBA, Kelly Von Hemel); Starry Pie (TBA, C.R. Trout); Tempting Date (TBA, Chris Hartman); True Tails (TBA, Jorge Lara); and Yo Fanci (TBA, Joe Petalino).

PIN OAK STUD USA STAKES EARLY KNOWN CANDIDATES

Artic Heat (TBA, Robert Listen); Beta Capo (TBA, Steve Asmussen); Cherokee Wind (TBA, Joe Lucas); Crosstown (TBA, Bret Calhoun); Going Ballistic (TBA, Donnie K. Von Hemel); Investor Gator (TBA, George Handy); Later Gater (TBA, George Handy); and Western Prize (TBA, Steve Asmussen).

STONERSIDE STAKES EARLY KNOWN CANDIDATES

Atlanta Highway (TBA, Andy Leggio Jr.); Changeisgonnacome (TBA, Michael Trombetta); Cream Only (TBA, Steve Asmussen); Moneyinmywranglers (TBA, Sharon Barker); Round Lake (TBA, Donnie K. Von Hemel); She's Outrageous (TBA, Chris Hartman); and Wrenice (Bobby Walker Jr., Randy Mayfield).

FLIGHT PLANS

Three H.E. "Tex" Sutton Forwarding Co. charter flights are scheduled to transport out-of-state Lone Star Million participants to Texas on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday's flight will start in Ocala, Fla. then land in Lexington to pick up Kentucky-based runners. Any California-based runners will arrive Saturday and New York/Maryland participants will land Sunday.

LONE STAR MILLION LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Country music artist Scott McCurry will perform live in the outdoor, sun-shaded Courtyard of Champions on Monday between 12-4 p.m. Other Lone Star Million Day entertainment includes pony rides, a petting zoo and bounce houses for kids in the Family Fun Park.

ZIMM LEADS CLIFF BY THREE

Jockeys Cliff Berry, Eguard Tejera and Ramsey Zimmerman each won five races last week (May 17-20). Zimmerman will begin Week 7 of the 16-week meeting atop the Lone Star standings with 31 wins, three clear of two-time defending champ Berry. Richard Eramia is third with 22 wins, followed by Justin Shepherd (20), Quincy Hamilton (18), Glen Murphy (17), Luis Quinonez (17), Larry Taylor (16), Tejera (11) and Bobby Walker Jr. (9). Zimmerman, riding at Lone Star for the first time this season, rode his first local stakes winner Saturday when Smoke Mountain nosed Wheaton Home in the $50,000 Ford Express Stakes. "I think this is the deepest riding colony we've ever had," trainer Steve Asmussen recently said.

AUTREY TIGHTENS TRAINER'S RACE

Cody Autrey moved to within one of Bret Calhoun in the Lone Star trainer standings, 27-26, after six wins last week (May 17-20), including the $50,000 Ford Express with Smoke Mountain. Assistant trainer Kevin Martin has overseen the Autrey stable for most of the season because Autrey also has a division at Churchill Downs this year. Eight-time Lone Star training champ Steve Asmussen, who won the Preakness Stakes on Saturday with Curlin, will begin the week in third with 14 wins, followed by John Locke (13), Danny Pish (13), Jorge Lara (10), Donnie K. Von Hemel (8), Chris Hartman (7), Cheryl Asmussen (6), Jack Bruner (5), Brent Davidson (5) and Randy Mayfield (5).

FIVE MORE WINS FOR POTENT HEFLIN DRIVER RACING

The red-hot team of Jerry and Sandy Helfin of Rockwall and Jim and Ywachetta Driver of Irving won with five of their eight starters last week (May 17-20) and moved within seven of Kagele Brothers Inc.'s 2004 record of 27 single season wins by an owner at Lone Star Park. Overall, Heflin and Driver Racing LLC had won 20 races and $212,415 from 42 starts at the meet with 10 seconds and three thirds (a 48% win-clip). Their horses are trained by Cody Autrey. Together, they have claimed 16 horses for $191,000 while only losing seven runners via the claim box for a return of $57,500. Carl Moore of Arlington, who led all Lone Star Park owners with the best in-the-money percentage in each of the last two seasons, was second with six wins from 10 starters. Dallas' Jan Haynes and four-time leading owner Tom Durant of Granbury had five wins apiece. James W. Hatcher Jr. and Cathy and Bob Zollars each won two races last week.