Caldwell has a constant in Algebra for Hanks Memorial

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Trainer J.R. Caldwell said he wasn’t much for the subject of algebra during his time in school.

“I’m still sitting on basic math,” he quipped.

But when it comes to the horse Algebra, Caldwell has figured him out. Algebra has gone 3 for 5 for the barn and on Sunday at Lone Star Park will be favored to win the $75,000 Wayne Hanks Memorial.

The 6 1/2-furlong race for Texas-breds is one of five restricted stakes on the card. They are worth a total of $375,000. Lone Star is offering an all-stakes pick four on races 8-11 and the 50-cent bet will have a minimum guaranteed pool of $50,000.

The Wayne Hanks, which is for 3-year-olds and up, is the first stakes on the card. Algebra is looking for his third straight win, after edging multiple stakes winner Mr Money Bags in an allowance sprint that scratched down to two horses April 29 and taking a mile allowance by a halflength over multiple stakes winner Kenai Bob on May 27. Those are the two starts Algebra has made this meet at Lone Star.

“He’s confident,” Caldwell said. “The last two races I thought he might have been beat. Horses laid on him, and he was like, “Uh, no – you ain’t beating me today.’ He’s come back and won.

“He’s really in a good place mentally. He doesn’t think he can get beat.”

Algebra, who was a $25,000 claim by Caldwell client Farmers Fillies Racing, is a rising name among Texas-breds. Last year, he won a minor sprint stakes at Gillespie County Fair, a mixed meet in Fredericksburg.

This year, he was second by a neck in the $100,000 Star of Texas, a one-mile race in March at Sam Houston.

“He can run short or long,” Caldwell said. “He’s steady. I think he likes our program.”

Algebra will break from post 2 in the six-horse Wayne Hanks. He will be ridden by Lane Luzzi, who has been aboard Algebra all year for Caldwell.

“The horse can sit off of it and close,” Caldwell said. “He’s just so good right now and aggressive, he puts it to them early. Catch me if you can. The speed of the race will dictate his place.”

Caldwell also will saddle K C Tiz Moro, who in March was second to Mr Money Bags in the Spirit of Texas Stakes at Sam Houston. Ry Eikleberry has the mount from post 5.

“He’s got an outside post and can sit off of whoever wants to play,” said Caldwell.

Asmussen seeks sweep

Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt and trainer Steve Asmussen have had outstanding success with 2-year-olds through the years and on Sunday have a chance to sweep both divisions of the Texas Stallion Stakes.

Kentucky invader Bling Bling Bling goes in the $75,000 Staunch Avenger for 2-year-old colts and geldings and Come to the Party starts in the $75,000 Pan Zareta for 2-year-old fillies. The races will be run at five furlongs.

Bling Bling Bling is looking to win his maiden in the Staunch Avenger. Last month Asmussen saddled King Ottoman to win his maiden in the Texas Derby at Lone Star.

“It can be done,” quipped Asmussen.

The Staunch Avenger field of nine includes I’m a Cowboy, the lone winner in the group.

Bling Bling Bling debuted May 4 at Churchill and was third in a maiden special weight over five furlongs. The winner of the race, Two of a Kind, came back in his next start to capture the Tremont at Belmont Park. Bling Bling Bling was favored at Churchill.

“I was extremely surprised he got beat first time out,” Asmussen said. “I think he’s a nice 2-year-old that happens to be a Texas-bred.”

Stewart Elliott has the mount from post 9.

Elliott also will be aboard Come to the Party, who starts from post 11 in a field of 12 maidens in the Pan Zareta. Come to the Party broke from the rail in her debut and finished third May 19 at Lone Star.

Caldwell will have multiple starters in both 2-year-old stakes.

“My clients went all in with the Texas-bred program and bought yearlings, and we’re sitting here with five in the stakes,” he said. “I appreciate the owners for the opportunity. I think we’ve got a fighting chance.”

Kaylee’s Shadow is one of three fillies Caldwell has in the Pan Zareta. She is a half-sister to It’s My Money, a past winner of the race. The barn’s top starter in the Staunch Avenger is Hard Gold.

Competitive cast in Shifflett

Ima Discreet Lady, Boerne, and Miss Perfecta are chief contenders in a competitive $75,000 Danny Shifflett Scholarship Stakes. The 7 1/2-furlong turf race is for fillies and mares bred in Texas.

In the allowance prep May 21, Miss Perfecta was placed second. The start was her first since July.

“She’s a stakes-winning statebred filly and I love the spot,” Asmussen said. “I don’t like the draw – 11 of 11.”

Boerne won the allowance prep and also captured this race a year ago at Lone Star.

“She’s as solid as they come,” said trainer Robertino Diodoro.

Ima Discreet Lady is seeking her eighth stakes win against a field that includes her half-sister, Ima Sky Traveler. The race drew a second set of half-sisters in multiple stakes winner No Mas Tequila and Imaluckycharm.

Kenai Bob tops Hall of Fame

Kenai Bob will be moving back to turf for the $75,000 Texas Hall of Fame. The last time he ran over the Lone Star course he won the Assault Stakes in July.

The Hall of Fame is a 1 1/16mile race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Texas.

Kenai Bob, a two-time stakes winner, is the most accomplished member of the nine-horse field. He is returning to the stakes ranks after running second to Algebra in a mile allowance May 27 at Lone Star.

Kenai Bob has a chance to control the pace from post 8 under Floyd Wethey Jr. Francisco Bravo trains the horse for his breeder, Michael Grossman.

The chief threat could be Bubba Bling. He is moving back into the Texas-bred ranks after running third in an open turf allowance May 22 at Lone Star. Bubba Bling is a half-brother to Redatory, a two-time winner of the Hall of Fame.

Gerardo Mora has the mount for trainer Allen Dupuy.