Grand Prairie, Texas (May 30, 2011) - Mark Gorman, Neil Haymes and Kevin Bogart’s Thirtyfirststreet, trained by Doug O’Neill, was a determined winner in the 15th running of the $200,000 Lone Star Derby over a firm turf course at Lone Star Park Monday.

With Chris Landeros aboard, the California-bred son of Good Journey rated kindly sitting just off of early leader Aces N Kings through comfortable fractions of 25.16, 49.43 and 1:12.89. After taking the lead from Aces N Kings approaching the quarter pole, Thirtyfirststreet dug in gamely to withstand a relentless stretch-long bid from Close Ally to prevail by a neck, it was 2 3/4 lengths back to Derby Kitten in Third. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.55.

“He was just running so easy,” said winning jockey Chris Landeros. “Down the lane it seemed like he was focusing on where the other horses were instead of running forward. So when Close Ally came to us, I didn’t even have to ask much. He had plenty left and he really ran hard to the finish.”

In winning the Lone Star Derby, Thirtyfirststreet secured his first stakes win against open company and the $113,000 first place prize increased his earnings to $241,400.

This year’s renewal of the Lone Star Derby marked the first time the race has been run over turf.

Thirtyfirststreet paid $45.80, $14.60, $6.80, runner-up Close Ally returned $4.40, $3.60, and Derby Kitten paid $3.40 for show. Dreaminofthewin, Unbridled Sheriff, Aces N Kings, Awesome Bet, Uncle Sam and Rys Alley Cat completed the order of finish.

Dean's Kitten Over Hard-Luck Expansion in $150,000 Dallas Turf Cup

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Dean’s Kitten, trained by Michael Maker, won the 15th running $150,000 Dallas Turf Cup, for three-year-olds and up, over a firm turf course at Lone Star Park on Monday.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, who won the 2009 Dallas Turf Cup aboard Seaspeak, the bay son of Kitten’s Joy benefitted from his rail post position and made his way to the lead through early fractions of 24.01 and 47.40. After taking the field past the three-quarter pole in 1:10.76, Dean’s Kitten had plenty left in the tank to sprint through the stretch to record a 1 1/2-lengths victory. Expansion, who encountered traffic trouble approaching the top of the stretch, rallied well to finish second, it was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Unbridled’s Heart in third. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:40.90.

“He broke very alertly and he was very relaxed, so I just left him there” said winning rider Julien Leparoux. “He was going easy early on and he finished up nice.”

In winning the Dallas Turf Cup, Dean’s Kitten recorded his fourth victory from 20 career starts. The $90,000 winner’s share of the purse increased Dean Kitten’s lifetime earnings to $591,275.

Dean’s Kitten paid $5.40, $3.00, $2.40, runner-up Expansion returned $2.60, $2.40, and Unbridled’s Heart paid $3.00 for show. Alwayswithapproval, Schramsberg, McKenna’s Justice, and J J’s Indy completed the order of finish.

Baffert and Garcia Combine to Win $75,000 Valid Expectations Stakes for Second Year in a Row

Mike Pegram and Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings Inc.’s Irish Gypsy, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Martin Garcia, won the 15th running of the $75,000 Valid Expectations stakes, for fillies and mares three-year-olds and up, over a fast main track at Lone Star Park Monday. Baffert and Garcia were victorious in the 2010 Valid Expectations with Mother Ruth.

A bay daughter of Hennessy, Irish Gypsy had to call upon every ounce of her courage to surge past a stubborn Cosmo Girl in deep stretch. Cosmo Girl, who was involved in a bitter early pace dispute with She’s a Bond Girl through fractions of 21.87, 44.18, and 56.98, yielded grudgingly in the final strides while coming up a head shy. It was four lengths back to Tin Top Cat in third. The final time for the six-furlong distance was 1:10.16.

The victory improved Irish Gypsy’s race record 12-4-4-1, and the $45,000 winner’s share of the purse increased her earnings to $196,310.

Irish Gypsy paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10, runner-up Cosmo Girl returned $3.80, $2.60, and Tin Top Cat paid $3.00 to show. She’s a Bond Girl, Queenland, Gleaming and Miss Natalie completed the order of finish.

A Grandacious Victory in $75,000 Cinemine Stakes

Carl R Moore Management LLC’s Grandacious, trained by current meet-leading trainer Bret Calhoun, proved best in the 13th Running of the $75,000 Cinemine Stakes, for 3-year-old fillies, over a fast track at Lone Star Park Monday.

With Cliff Berry astride, the bay daughter of Grand Slam enjoyed a comfortable trip behind early fractions of 22.35 and 44.62 before moving on to a 1 3/4 lengths victory over Aide, it was another 10 3/4 lengths back to Floatnpastya in third. The final time for the seven furlongs was 1:23.40

In winning the Cinemine Stakes, Grandacious improved her race record to 9-4-1-2 and increased her earnings to $203,343.

Grandacious paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.40, runner-up Aide returned $2.80, $2.80, Floatnpastya paid $4.20 for show. Come Slew Me, Golden Springs, Gold N Glamore, Love Dare, Lookinforchange and Icelain Diva completed the order of finish.

Note: Icelain Diva, ridden by Lindey Wade, broke down passing the furlong marker unseating her jockey. Wade was examined by on sight personnel and released. He complained of mild shoulder soreness and took off his final two mounts of the afternoon.