(June 16, 2007) - Nuttyboom, who concluded his 2006 campaign with a swift three-length romp over High Strike Zone in the $40,000 J.R. Straus Memorial Stakes at Retama Park, heads a competitive cast of older Texas-bred sprinters in Saturday's $50,000 Carter McGregor Jr. Memorial Stakes at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Nuttyboom landed post No. 9 in the field of 12 and was made the mild 3-1 morning line favorite for the six-furlong affair. Trainer Ralph Irwin has secured the services of Louisiana-based jockey Don Simington.

Nuttyboom nearly won last year's McGregor but fell a head short of War Bridle, who is back to defend his title and will be 15-1 on the morning line.

Seven of the dozen entries are stakes winners, including Dreamandvisions, who was most recently third in the Grade III Texas Mile on April 28, and the Steve Asmussen-trained Datrick, winner of last year's Grade III Kentucky Breeders' Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs who will be making his first start in 285 days.

The complete field for the 11th running of the $50,000 Carter McGregor Jr. Memorial Stakes (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Southern Humour (Tony McNeil, Cash Asmussen, 8-1); War Bridle (Quincy Hamilton, Tommie Morgan, 15-1); Snuck By (Larry Taylor, Bret Calhoun, 8-1); Dreamsandvisions (Bobby Walker Jr., Steven Duke, 4-1); Toga Too (Ramsey Zimmerman, Bob Schultz, 6-1); Mr. Smee (Tony McNeil, Cash Asmussen, 8-1); Datrick (Luis Quinonez, Steve Asmussen, 5-1); K D King (Jeremy Collier, Keith Dunaway, 12-1); Nuttyboom (Don Simington, Ralph Irwin, 3-1); Be a Resident (Cliff Berry, Bret Calhoun, 15-1); Lissa's Star (Glen Murphy, Mike Stidham, 20-1); and PF Don D (Justin Shepherd, Terry Thomas, 20-1).

Southern Humour and Mr. Smee will run as a coupled entry.

The Carter McGregor, which honors the late former president of the Texas Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and Texas HBPA, will be run at approximately 5:19 p.m. CT as Race 9 on Saturday's 10-race program that begins at 1:35 p.m. CT.

SATURDAY, JUNE 16 AT A GLANCE

· 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Drive Thru Wagering at Gate 2
· 10:25 a.m. - Parking Gates 1-5, Post Time Pavilion and Jockey Club Lounge (private) open
· 11:30 a.m. - Grandstand opens
· 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Live music in the Courtyard of Champions by InSide Out; pony rides, a petting zoo and bounce houses in the Family Fun Park

· 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. - Lone Star Park Handicapping Seminar with The Dallas Morning News' Rick Lee and Lone Star Park track announcer John Lies on the first floor of the Grandstand (and public address system/television monitors)

· 1:35 p.m. - The first of 10 live races at Lone Star Park
· 2 p.m. - Deadline to enter a prize drawing for a trip for two to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, courtesy of Time Warner Cable

· 2:46 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade III, $200,000 Jefferson Cup Stakes (3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf) from Churchill Downs (Race 6)

· 3:17 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade III, $200,000 Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Stakes (3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles) from Churchill Downs (Race 7)

· 3:44 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade III, $200,000 All Along Breeders' Cup Stakes (fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf) from Colonial Downs (Race 9)

· 3:45 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade I, $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap (fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles) from Belmont Park (Race 8)

· 3:49 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade III, $150,000 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf) from Churchill Downs (Race 8)

· 3:52 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade III, $150,000 Eatontown Handicap (fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf) from Monmouth Park (Race 9)

· 4:12 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade III, $750,000 Colonial Turf Cup (3-year-olds at 1 3/16 miles on turf) from Colonial Downs (Race 10)

· 4:21 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade II, $300,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles) from Churchill Downs (Race 9)

· 4:51 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade I, $750,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles) from Churchill Downs (Race 10)

· 5:00 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade III, $175,000 Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap (fillies and mares at seven furlongs) from Arlington Park (Race 9)

· 5:19 p.m. - 11th running of the $50,000 Carter McGregor Jr. Memorial Stakes (Texas-bred 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs) from Lone Star Park (Race 9)

· 5:21 p.m. - Simulcast of the Grade III, $200,000 Regret Stakes (3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf) from Churchill Downs (Race 11)

DOWN THE STRETCH

FREE 12-PACK COOLERS HIGH SATURDAY'S SUMMER FUN DAY - Saturday doubles as "Summer Fun Day" at Lone Star Park. All customers with a paid $3 general admission will receive a free Lone Star Park 10th Anniversary 12-Pack Cooler while supplies last. The insolated, royal blue canvas coolers - complete with a carrying strap - can accommodate two six packs of your favorite beverage during the hot summer months. There'll also be a prize drawing between live races to win a trip for two to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, courtesy of Time Warner Cable. Entertainment includes live music by InsideOut in the outdoor, sun-shaded Courtyard of Champions from 12-4 p.m., plus pony rides, a petting zoo and bounce houses for kids in the Family Fun Park.

FATHER'S DAY FISHING CONTEST - The first 200 men age 21 and over in attendance at Lone Star Park's East and West entrance gates on Sunday will be eligible to participate in the racetrack's Father's Day Fishing Contest. The grand prize is a stainless steel barbecue grill. Between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the Courtyard of Champions, a 3,000-gallon fish tank will be stocked with about 150 catfish and one will be specially tagged. Contestants will be given a rod, reel and bait to catch only one fish in five minutes or less. The ones that catch the specially tagged fish will get a chance to win the grill. If no one catches the special fish, a prize drawing between all contestants will be conducted to give away the barbecue. Grandstand gates open at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

PAST McGREGOR CHAMPS: Past winners of the Carter McGregor Jr. Memorial Stakes: Daggett's Crossing (1997), Smiling Time (1998), Best Dressed Truck (1999), Boots On Sunday (2000), Triple Card (2001), St. Martin's Cloak (2002), Front Nine (2003), Term Sheet (2004), Lights On Broadway (2005) and War Bridle (2006). Triple Card holds the stakes record of 1:08.06. The average winning Beyer Speed Figure is 93.

BILL McGREGOR TO PRESENT TROPHY - Bill McGregor, the son of Carter McGregor Jr., will be on hand Saturday at Lone Star Park to present the trophy to the winning connections of the $50,000 Carter McGregor Jr. Memorial Stakes. McGregor will be accompanied by his wife Kathryn and their four children: Emily, McLean, Clarice and Graham.

ZIMM STILL ON TOP OF JOCKEY STANDINGS, BUT ERAMIA IS HOT - Ramsey Zimmerman will begin Friday's action atop the Lone Star Park jockey standings with a 44-41 lead over Richard Eramia. Lone Star's top five jockeys are separated by 11 wins. Cliff Berry, the two-time defending riding champ, is third (40 wins), followed by Quincy Hamilton (36), Luis Quinonez (33), Justin Shepherd (28), Glen Murphy (27), Larry Taylor (24), Eguard Tejera (14) and Filemon Rodriguez (12). Eramia, the 27-year-old native of Uruguay, moved into second thanks to 12 wins this month, which leads all Lone Star jockeys. He also leads all jockeys with 12 turf wins at the meet. Mounts for the six of the riders have eclipsed $600,000 in money-won: Zimmerman ($776,966), Quinonez ($760,386), Berry ($710,324), Eramia ($699,363), Hamilton ($682,525) and Shepherd ($605,813).

CALHOUN IN PURSUIT OF FIRST LONE STAR TRAINING TITLE - Bret Calhoun, runner-up to Steve Asmussen at the last two Spring Thoroughbred Seasons, entered Friday with a 38-30 lead over Cody Autrey in the Lone Star Park trainer standings. Asmussen was third with 25 wins, followed by Danny Pish (23), John Locke (21), Chris Hartman (16), Donnie K. Von Hemel (14), Jorge Lara (14), Dallas Keen (11) and Allen Milligan (8). Locke leads all Lone Star Park trainers with seven wins since June 1. Based on win-percentage and a minimum of four winners, the top trainers this season have been Autrey (30-for-89, 33.7%), Mike Mareina (4-for-13, 30.8%), Calhoun (38-for-125, 30.4%), Jack Bruner (6-for-22, 27.3%), Lara (14-for-53, 26.4%), Hartman (16-for-64, 25.0%), Keen (11-for-47, 23.4%), Charlie Smith (5-for-26, 19.2%), Jerenesto Torrez (5-for-27, 18.5%) and Von Hemel (14-for-76, 18.4%). Asmussen and Calhoun are separated by $333 in money won, $743,245 to $742,912.

HEFLIN & DRIVER RACING FIVE WINS SHY OF SINGLE SEASON RECORD - The team of Sandy and Jerry Heflin of Rockwall, Texas and Ywachetta and James Driver of Irving, Texas collected their 22nd win of the meeting Thursday night when Mad At Cha ($4.80) won the seventh race. They begin Friday five wins shy of equaling Lone Star Park's single season record of 27 victories set by the Kagele Brothers in the spring of 2004. Jan Haynes is second in the owner's standings with eight wins followed by Bill and Corrine Heiligbrodt (7), Tom Durant (6), Carl Moore (6), Clarence Scharbauer Jr. (6), Frontier Stables (5), James Hatcher Jr. (5), Brian Mundell (5), Charlie Smith (5), TBD Owners (5) and Wimp Free Racing Stable (5). Stonerside Stable leads all owners in money won with $309,400.

MONEYINMYWRANGLERS - Last week on June 7, Moneyinmywranglers, trained by Sharon Barker, joined Lil Hanna as a three-time winner at the meet when the Texas-bred 3-year-old filly won an open-company sprint by 2 ½ lengths in 1:10.64. A start in the $50,000 Valor Farm Stakes on the July 7 Stars of Texas Day program could be next. Barker owns the daughter of Proud Halo with Ray Whitley.

SCHULTZ PASSES ON MCGREGOR WITH MYSTERY CLASSIC, EYES LONE STAR PARK TURF SPRINT - Mystery Classic, arguably the quickest Texas-bred on the grounds, bypassed Saturday's $50,000 Carter McGregor Jr. Memorial Stakes in favor of an engagement against open company in the $50,000 Lone Star Park Turf Sprint on Wednesday, July 4. Mystery Classic won six consecutive starts last year as a 3-year-old, culminating with back-to-back stakes victories. He faltered at five furlongs on turf over soft going against open company June 1 in his first start of the year.

STALLION FIRSTS - Maileys Cat's victory in Saturday's fillies division of the TTA Sales Futurity gave stallion Van Nistelrooy his first North American 2-year-old winner. The next day, maiden special weight winner Galiano became the first winner for 2002 Champion 2-Year-Old Male Vindication.

LAST CHANCE FOR NATIONAL HANDICAPPING CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT - The deadline to enter Lone Star Park's Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship Qualifying Tournament is Friday at midnight. The top three finishers in this weekend's two-day tournament will earn berths to the NHC IX finals in Las Vegas in January. Plus, more than $10,000 in prize money is up for grabs. The entry fee is $250 per person or just $150 for "Star Player Rewards" members. To participate, contact Kristen Foster at (972) 237-1134 or kristenf@lonestarpark.com <mailto:kristenf@lonestarpark.com>. There are already more than 180 people signed up to compete. Last year, there were 123 entries, headed by tournament winner David Muse of Benbrook, Texas.

PARTY AT THE PARK - Live country music by King Cone and the Tailgate Philharmonic and drink specials highlight Friday's "Party at the Park" in the Courtyard of Champions from 7-11 p.m.

SENIOR CITIZEN'S DAY - Sunday is Senior Citizen's Day where all patrons age 62 and up will receive free general admission with proof of identification.