(Friday, May 27, 2011) - Lanni Family Trust Mercedes Stable, LLC’s Game On Dude, trained by Bob Baffert, and Bob and Cathy Zollar’s and Mark Wagner’s Thiskyhasnolimit, trained by Steve Asmussen, headline Monday’s 15th running of the $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (G3), for three-year-olds and up to be run over the main track at 1 1/16 miles. The Lone Star Park Handicap is feature event on a Memorial Day racing program that includes six stakes races with purses totaling $1 million.

Game On Dude, winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on March 5, and the 2010 Lone Star Derby, (G3) is seeking to become the first Lone Star Derby winner to also win the Lone Star Park Handicap. The four-year-old son of Awesome Again has a race record of 9-4-2-0 with $894,658 in earnings. The $165,000 winner’s share of the Lone Star Park Handicap would make Game On Dude racing’s newest millionaire. Martin Garcia, who piloted Game On Dude to victory in the 2010 Lone Star Derby, will be in for the ride

“He’s doing really well,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “He ran a big race in the Lone Star Derby last year and this looked like a good time to bring him back to Texas.”

Thiskyhasnolimit, conditioned by Lone Star Park’s all-time leading trainer Steve Asmussen, winner of the Texas Mile (G3) on Lone Star Million Preview Day April 23, is attempting to become the first horse to complete a sweep of the Texas Mile and Lone Star Park Handicap since Dixie Dot Com accomplished the feat in 2001. The four-year-old son of Sky Mesa owns a career record of 16-5-4-1 with $706,532 in earnings. Justin Shepherd, who was aboard for the victory in the Texas Mile has the return call.

“He’s a very good horse,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “He’s always been a good work horse and he’s been impressive in his preparation for Monday.”

Also of note in the Lone Star Park Handicap are Awesome Gem, trained by Craig Dollase, a winner of seven of 42 career starts for $2,320,770 in earnings, including the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) in 2010, and Flat Out, trained by Charles Dickey, winner of three of six starts with $117,100 in earnings.

The field from the rail out, with jockey and morning line odds listed in parenthesis, consists of: Flat Out (Cliff Berry, 15-1); Thiskyhasnolimit (Justin Shepherd, 2-1); Awesome Gem (Robby Albarado, 5-2); Game On Dude (Martin Garcia, 6-5); and Lydia’s Last Step (Bryan McNeil, 20-1).

Scheduled as race nine on the ten-race program, the Lone Star Park Handicap has an approximate post time of 5:19 p.m. (all times central).

Wasted Tears Seeks Third Straight Victory in $200,000 Ouija Board (G3)

Monday’s 15th running of the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff (G3), for fillies and mares three-years-old and up, to be run at one mile over turf, features two-time defending champion and multiple graded stakes winner Wasted Tears.

Bred, owned and trained by Bart Evans, the 6-year-old bay daughter of Najran has won 11 of 18 career starts for $770,598 in earnings, including a perfect five-for-five racing over the Lone Star Park turf course. Wasted Tears is trying to become the first three-time winner in the Ouija Board while making her first start of 2011. Jockey Julien Leparoux has the assignment.

“She’s run well after a layoff a bunch of times,” said Wasted Tears trainer Bart Evans. “We gave her a few months off and now she’s back and really enjoying it.”

Sheer Beauty, trained by Bernard Flint, and Category Seven, trained by Kenneth Hargrave, may prove to be the toughest competition for Wasted Tears. The former is a winner of five of eleven races, including the $50,000 Irving Distaff over the Lone Star Park turf course on April 23, and the latter has won 13 of 46 career starts for $437,227.

The field from the rail out, with jockey and morning line odds listed in parenthesis, consists of: Sheer Beauty (Chris Landeros, 5-1); Cherry Pink (Junior Chacaltana, 30-1); Category Seven (Richard Eramia, 4-1); Wasted Tears (Julien Leparoux, 4-5); The Cat Who (Luis Quinonez, 12-1); Bella Diamante (Cliff Berry, 15-1); and Slide On Bye (Bryan McNeil, 8-1).

Scheduled as race four of ten, the Ouija Board Distaff has an approximate post time of 2:59 p.m.

$200,000 Lone Star Derby Contested Over Turf for First Time

Monday’s 15th running of the $200,000 Lone Star Derby, for 3-year-olds, to be run at 1 1/16 miles over turf, features Uncle Sam, owned by Kaleem Shah, and trained by Bob Baffert.

A winner of two of four starts with earnings of $86,340, Uncle Sam will be making his first start over turf in the Lone Star Derby. The signature race for three-year-olds at Lone Star Park will be contested over turf for the first time since its inception in 1997. A gray son of Tapit, Uncle Sam has shown rapid improvement through his first four starts.

“He’s a big, lanky horse and he’s kind of immature,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “He ran really well in his last start and we wanted to try him over turf and thought we’d go after a $200,000 purse”

Baffert is seeking his fifth victory in the Lone Star Derby, Anet (1997), Wanna Runner (2006), Mythical Power (2009) and Game On Dude (2010).

Derby Kitten, owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, and trained by Michael Maker, won the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland on April 23 before finishing 13th of 19 in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 7. The bay son of Kitten’s Joy has won two of ten starts with $172,333 in earnings.

The field from the rail out, with jockey and morning line odds listed in parenthesis, consists of: Close Ally (Robby Albarado, 7-2); Aces N Kings (Eguard Tejera, 15-1); Rys Alley Cat (Bryan McNeil, 30-1); Uncle Sam (Martin Garcia, 5-2); Thirtyfirststreet (Chris Landeros, 9-2); Derby Kitten (Julien Leparoux, 3-1); Unbridled Sheriff (Lindy Wade, 30-1); Dreaminofthewin (Luis Quinonez, 12-1) and Awesome Bet (Gerard Melancon, 15-1).

Scheduled as race eight on the ten-race program, the Lone Star Derby has an approximate post time of 4:51 p.m.

Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Expansion Heads $150,000 Dallas Turf Cup

Monday’s 15th running of the $150,000 Dallas Turf Cup Handicap, for three-year-olds and up, to be run at 1 1/16 miles over turf, features Millennium Farms and Mike McCarty’s multiple graded stakes winner Expansion, trained by Lone Star Park’s all-time leading trainer Steve Asmussen.

A six-year-old bay son of Maria’s Mon, Expansion is looking to bounce back from a 12th place finish in the Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Expansion has won five of 28 starts with $551,924 in earnings, including a victory in the Fair Grounds Handicap (G3) May 19.

“He didn’t run his race at Churchill Downs,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “That’s the second time we’ve run him on that turf course and he just doesn’t seem to like. He’s a tough older horse and he’s been training well lately.”

Other contenders of note, Dean’s Kitten, trained by Michael Maker, a winner of three of 19 starts with $501,275 in earnings, the four-year-old chestnut son of Kitten’s Joy won the Lane’s End (G2) at Keeneland as a three-year-old before finishing 14th in the Kentucky Derby. Also, Schramsberg, trained by Chris Hartman, a chestnut son of Storm Cat, out the prolific race mare Serena’s Song, Schramsberg won the John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park on January 29.

The field from the rail out, with jockey and morning line odds listed in parenthesis, consists of: Dean’s Kitten (Julien Leparoux, 7-5); Schramsberg (Chris Landeros, 3-1); Expansion (Gerard Melancon, 5-2); Alwayswithapproval (Cliff Berry, 20-1); McKenna’s Justice (Alfredo Juarez, Jr., 20-1); Unbridled’s Heart (Erik McNeil, 15-1); Golden Euro (Lindey Wade, 20-1); and J J’s Indy (Luis Quinonez, 15-1).

Scheduled as race six on the ten-race card, the Dallas Turf Cup has an approx. post time of 3:55 p.m.

Aide Takes on Eight in $75,000 Cinemine Stakes

Adele B. Dilschneider’s Aide, trained by Albert Stall, has been installed as the 7/5 morning line favorite by track oddsmaker Rick Lee for the 13th running of the $75,000 Cinemine Stakes, for three-year-old fillies, to be run over the main track at the distance of seven furlongs.

A bay daughter of Arch, Aide has won two of seven starts for $73,626 in earnings. Aide was last seen finishing fourth behind multiple grade one winner Turbulent Descent in the Beaumont (G2) at Keeneland..

Out to deny Aide in her quest for her first stakes victory are Grandacious, trained by meet-leading trainer Bret Calhoun, and Love Dare, trained by Alvin Sider. Grandacious won an allowance race at Lone Star Park on April 23 by more than 12 lengths. Love Dare is a winner of two of four starts with earnings of $43,100. Lobe Dare ships over from Evangeline Downs where she’s been training forwardly.

The field from the rail out, with jockey and morning line odds listed in parenthesis, consists of: Lookinforchange (Chris Landeros, 12-1); Grandacious (Cliff Berry, 5-2), Icelain Diva (Lindey Wade, 30-1); Golden Springs (Eguard Tejera, 30-1); Gold N Glamore (Bryan McNeil, 10-1); Aide (Julian Leparoux, 7-5); Floatnpastya (Jose Figueroa, 20-1); Love Dare (David Bourque, 4-1); and Come Slew Me (Brayan Velazquez, 30-1).

The Cinemine Stakes is the seventh race on the ten-race program with an approx. post time of 4:23 p.m.

Irish Gypsy Looms Tough in $75,000 Valid Expectations

Monday’s 15th running of the $75,000 Valid Expectations stakes, for fillies and mares three-year-olds and up, going six furlongs over the main track, features Mike Pegram and John Sikura’s Irish Gypsy, trained by Bob Baffert.

A bay daughter of Hennessy, Irish Gypsy has won three of 11 starts with $151,310 in earnings. Irish Gypsy is making her second start of the year in the Valid Expectations after an impressive runner-up finish in the $70,000 Time To Leave stakes at Hollywood Park May 1. Martin Garcia has the mount.

“She ran well off of a layoff in her latest start and she’s been training the right way,” said trainer Bob Baffert.

Cosmo Girl, a speedy stakes-winning daughter of City Zip, trained by Joe Petalino, appears to be the main danger to Irish Gypsy. Cosmo Girl was last seen winning the $75,000 Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 27.

The field from the rail out, with jockey and morning line odds listed in parenthesis, consists of: Gleaming (Cliff Berry, 5-1); Cosmo Girl (Lindey Wade, 9-2); Queenland (Junior Chacaltana, 20-1); Irish Gypsy (Martin Garcia, 1-1); Tin Top Cat (Justin Shepherd, 6-1); Strong Deal (Rita Helton, 50-1); Miss Natalie (Luis Quinonez, 15-1) and She’s a Bond Girl (Bryan McNeil, 10-1).

Scheduled as race five on the ten-race program, the Valid Expectations Stakes has an approximate post time of 3:27 p.m.

This Weeks Events And Promotions At Lone Star Park

Saturday, May 28 – Jockeys & Java. Free every Saturday in the Courtyard of Champions through July 9. Beginning at 8:30 a.m., enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast, with breakfast burritos, while you observe horses' during training hours. Listen to commentary and insights from track announcer, John Lies and a special guest. Also, enjoy an in-depth tour of the barn and stable area! Later in the day in the Courtyard of Champions, enjoy Live Music with “Definitely Maybe” from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. – first live race at 1:35 p.m.

Sunday, May 29 – 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 omelet station for $8.95 and a live Jazz Trio will perform in Silks dining room from noon – 3 p.m. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. – first live race at 1:35 p.m.

Monday, May 30 – Lone Star Million Day. Annually the richest day in Texas Thoroughbred racing. In addition to the races, we will be hosting our 2nd annual Lone Star Million Chili Cook-Off competition sanctioned by the Chili Appreciation Society International, Inc. Sample chili from some of the top chili teams in the region! Taste cups will cost $2 with all proceeds benefiting Remember Me Rescue and LOPE Texas, two non-profit organizations that assist injured and retired racehorses find new careers. Visit LoneStarPark.com for more information. Plus, catch live music by Incognito from 1 - 5 p.m. and kids can enjoy bounce houses, pony rides and a petting zoo in our Family Fun Park. One lucky winner will drive off on a brand new Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster!* Simply fill out your entry form and drop it into one of our contest bins by the 2 p.m. entry deadline. Ten finalists will draw for a key and one of the keys will start the brand new bike. Winner will be announced on-site that day! Military Discount Day. Members of any branch of the military, with a valid military I.D., receive free general admission. Plus, a Family Fun Park on the Pavilion lawn.

*No purchase necessary. Must be present to win. Not sponsored by Harley-Davidson.