Texas Chrome, solid in defeat, targets Lone Star Handicap

Texas Chrome ran one of the best races of his career in defeat last weekend at Lone Star Park, finishing second to Mor Spirit in the Grade 3, $200,000 Steve Sexton Mile. He stalked the pace and rallied to finish 5 3/4 lengths behind the Grade 1 winner, who earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 107. Texas Chrome earned a 98 Beyer.

“He got a great trip, and I thought we had a shot at the head of the lane,” said J.R. Caldwell, who trains Texas Chrome for Keene Thoroughbreds. “He ran great. He ran his best lifetime number.”

Caldwell said Texas Chrome emerged from the Steve Sexton Mile in good order and will now point to the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up will be run May 28.

Texas Chrome, winner of last year’s Super Derby and Oklahoma Derby, was making his second start of the year in the Steve Sexton Mile. He opened his season in April with a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap. The horse lost his left front shoe in that race, said Caldwell.

“Coming off the layoff, going from 3 to 4, you hope he steps up,” said Caldwell.

Texas Chrome did so in the Steve Sexton Mile and figures to start as one of the top choices in the Lone Star Park Handicap. Ricardo Santana Jr., who has ridden the horse in his two starts this year, will have the mount, said Caldwell.

“Santana did all his works through Oaklawn,” said Caldwell. “He likes him.”

Texas Chrome is the reigning Texas-bred horse of the year on the strength of a 2016 campaign that also included wins in the Prelude Stakes at Louisiana Downs and the Texas Stallion Stakes at Lone Star. Overall, the colt by Grasshopper is 8 for 16 with earnings of $887,963.

Caldwell, who has a stable at Lone Star, also has divisions at Churchill Downs and Evangeline Downs. Texas Chrome will remain at Lone Star through at least his next start, and from there, plans will be discussed with Keene Thoroughbreds, said Caldwell.

Last year, the horse ran third in the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs and second in the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows.

Zia hires racing secretary

Matt Crawford has been named manager of racing operations and racing secretary at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M., according to a press release from the track. Crawford also will remain the racing secretary at Sam Houston, where he oversees the meets for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses.

Zia puts on a mixed meet for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. The 56-date season opens Sept. 9.

The track is seeking an announcer and a track superintendent for the upcoming season, according to a press release issued Thursday.

New integrity program

The American Quarter Horse Association announced Thursday it has been teaming with racetracks and racing commissions to send “Racing Integrity Teams” to Quarter Horse racing events. The teams’ tasks vary and include performing searches of barns, stalls, or cars, surveillance of horses, sharing intelligence, and other integrity-oriented duties.

Sam Houston hosted one of the teams during a recent weekend, and it was made up of investigators from five racing jurisdictions and the Texas Animal Health Commission.

“Our efforts are to partner with both the commissions and the tracks to help enforce all rules of racing,” Janet Van-Bebber, chief racing officer for the AQHA, said in a press release. “This can include monitoring proper licensing, checking for the presence of prohibited substances, searches for illegal equipment, and even keeping an eye out for possible human drug use. Assisting each jurisdiction in implementing its own Integrity Team will help serve as a valuable deterrent for improper and illegal activity at racetracks.”

◗ Cristina Bonilla, whose mentors include Hall of Fame rider Randy Romero, got the first win of her career Thursday night at Evangeline Downs. She guided Superstitious Swan ($6) to an 11-length win in the fourth race for owner and trainer Roland Bruno. Bonilla had six career mounts through Thursday.

◗ Justin Evans won his fifth Sunland training title at the meet that ended last month. Ry Eikleberry was the leading Thoroughbred rider for the fifth season in a row. He won five races on the closing day card April 18. The leading Quarter Horse jockey for the third season in a row was Esgar Ramirez.

◗ The seventh race Sunday at Lone Star is named for the late Dale Coleman. He was a racing official at Lone Star and a longtime steward at Louisiana Downs.

◗ Sunland Park announced that there is a new, 78-room boutique hotel on the track grounds. It opened April 21.