Lupus races on tap again Saturday
The 22nd Norma Lampert Memorial Lupus Springers 5k and walk to end Lupus, postponed May 20, is Saturday at Mid-America Park starting at 8 a.m.
Race-day registration begins at 6:30 a.m. in the first level of National Park College’s Gerald Fisher Student Area. Entry fee for new participants is $25 with online registration through Friday at www.lupus-arkansas.com. Original participants are asked to bring assigned bib numbers to the race site.
The 5k race offers awards for top runners, walkers and wheelchair participants. The race walk is non-competitive and does not offer awards.
Proceeds benefit the Hot Springsbased Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc. chapter, chaired by Jamesetta Smith. For more information, call 501-525-9380 or 800-294-8878.
Stellar Wind returns in California G1 race
The Apple Blossom Handicap winner at Oaklawn Park returns Saturday in a race renamed for a retired champion that she beat twice last year.
The Grade 1 Beholder (former Vanity) Mile drew Stellar Wind, a champion filly two years ago and coming off her third Grade 1 victory April 14 in the Apple Blossom. The 5-year-old Curlin mare had her victory enhanced when Apple Blossom runner-up Terra Promessa romped home by 7 1/2 lengths in the Grade 3 Allaire DuPont Distaff May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.
Stellar Wind is co-high weight at 126 pounds with Vale Dori, who has won her last six races, including five graded stakes, for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The five-horse field includes Finest City, last year’s champion female sprinter, trying to improve her 0-for-4 record around two turns.
Vale Dori breaks from the rail post with Rafael Bejarano aboard and Stellar Wind from post 2 with Victor Espinoza riding for trainer John Sadler. Hall of Famer Mike Smith rides Finest City (122) from post 4 for trainer Ian Kruljac while Show Stealer (Gary Stevens) and Faithfully (122) complete the field. Show Stealer is trained by Art Sherman, of California Chrome fame, and with Gary Stevens up has Beholder’s former jockey. Faithfully, a second Baffert entrant, has Flavien Prat aboard.
Beholder was retired after handing two-time champion Songbird her only defeat in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff at California’s Santa Anita Park. After winning the Vanity last year, Beholder lost to Stellar Wind in her last two starts — the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar and Grade 1 Zenyatta at Santa Anita.
Post time for the Beholder Mile is
6:30 p.m. CDT.