Stakes Spot Plays for Lone Star Park on May 30

A total of six stakes races will take center stage during a fine day of racing at Lone Star Park on Memorial Day.

Race 8: Memorial Day Sprint S.

An octet of fillies and mares will dash six panels in the affair. #4 Skinny Dip (5-1) added blinkers at the start of 2021 and went 3-for-4 with a second in four dirt sprints following the equipment change. The Greg Foley trainee didn’t offer much in a turf sprint to commence this season, but she moves to the main oval and will be more fit with a race under her belt. The Into Mischief mare will have Reylu Gutierrez in the silks.

Race 10: Ouija Board Distaff S.

The one-mile turf affair for fillies and mares attracted a nice field of nine, led by a pair of California invaders. Multiple stakes heroine #7 Avenue de France (5-2) has arguably the best turn of foot in the field, and the dark bay is also the class of the cast. The Leonard Powell pupil lands in a group with speed signed on, and I feel that she will receive a favorable setup in the event. Florent Geroux riding the strong late runner is a plus, too.

Race 11: Texas Derby

The $300,000 contest run at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt for three-year-olds features my best bet on the card in #8 A. P.’s Secret (5-2) for conditioner Saffie Joseph. The gray son of Cupid exits a pair of Grade 2 tries, the latest one coming when a good fourth in the deep Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct. The $150,000 juvenile purchase has tactical speed, a fine draw outside, and posted a nice five-furlong morning drill most recently, as well. I expect the colt to track the pace while forwardly placed prior to taking the lead in early stretch beneath Edwin Gonzalez.

Race 12: Steve Sexton Mile S. (G3)

The lucrative finale will pit a well-matched field of 10 traveling eight furlongs on the dirt. One-run closer #4 Sheriff Brown (12-1) is an intriguing exotics contender in the race for trainer Todd Fincher. The gelded son of Curlin was fifth in the event last campaign, and I expect him to improve upon that on Monday. He didn’t show much last time out, but the bay was obviously prepping for this tilt and will move forward considerably in a field full of early types.