Lone Star Park

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Judging from his dynamite wins in the Sunshine Millions Classic and Oaklawn

H. (G2), where he earned BRIS Speed ratings of 109 and 105, respectively, IT'S A

BIRD (Birdonthewire) appears to be one of the leading older horses on dirt in

the country, and we think he will prove it once again in Monday's $400,000 Lone

Star Park H. (G3). The six-year-old Marty Wolfson charge could not be entering

this race any better, with three consecutive bullet works at Calder to his name,

and shortening up from nine furlongs to 1 1/16 miles should only help, as his

pace-pressing style will have him in contention from the start. He's our choice

to succeed at short odds with Julien Leparoux.

SONG OF NAVARONE (Sultry Song), who is cross-entered in the Dallas Turf Cup

(G3), is a win machine. Victorious in eight of 11 starts, and unplaced only

once, the five-year-old enters on a four-stakes winning streak at Sunland Park

and Zia Park. His Speed ratings are a bit on the light side, but recall what

happened to a vast majority of bettors when not giving a Sunland shipper with

low figures his due in the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1). Song of Navarone actually

broke through the triple-digit rating ceiling as a three-year-old two years ago,

so he cannot be taken lightly in the race for minor awards.

MAGNUM (Arg) (El Compinche) won this race three years ago, but has had only

moderate success since. He was probably ill-suited to the Charles Town bullring

when sixth in the Charles Town Classic last out after making a middle move, and

his closing style probably works best on a conventional one-mile oval such as

Lone Star's. With the exception of his latest, his recent form has actually been

strong with a score in the San Antonio H. (G2) and a decent fifth in the Santa

Anita H. (G1).

The top three finishers from last month's Texas Mile (G3) all need to elevate

their game. JONESBORO (Sefapiano) wore down KING DAN (Include) to take the Texas

Mile by a half-length, but at age seven we're not sure how many big races

Jonesboro has left in him. A younger version might have fit well in this spot.

King Dan, on the other hand, is a veteran of only nine races and still has

upside. The main knock is that he's still eligible for a second-level allowance

and will be hounded all the way by It's a Bird.

ENCAUSTIC (Broad Brush) is winless in nine starts since moving to the Steve

Asmussen barn. Third in the Texas Mile last out, we think he can fare better

here than he did in this spot a year ago when he found himself dueling on the

lead through fast splits. He's a much better horse coming from off the pace, and

might be good enough to grab one of the minor pieces. Z FORTUNE (Siphon [Brz])

has yet to regain the form that made him a fringe Kentucky Derby (G1) candidate

a year ago. He was clearly in need of a race when fourth in the Fifth Season S.

on April 9, his first race in more than eight months.

The other two hopefuls would be a surprise. UPSTREAM (Open Forum), who

captured the Premiere S. for Texas-breds on opening day, was losing for a $7,500

tag over this track less than a year ago. STUNGBYTHESTORM (Vindication) has

missed the board in both stakes attempts, the latter a restricted event at Delta

Downs.