Endorsed, Touchuponastar Invade for Steve Sexton Mile

Horses are converging upon Lone Star Park from all corners for the May 29 Steve Sexton Mile (G3) at the Texas track. In addition to three horses with recent races in the Lone Star State, three horses in the field last competed in Kentucky, two in both California and Arkansas, and one apiece in New Mexico and Louisiana.

The most notable of the Kentucky invaders is Mark Breen's Endorsed , a dual graded stakes winner at a mile in Florida this year who most recently finished eighth in the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day, May 6. The Mike Maker trainee has Churchill Downs-based Tyler Gaffalione aboard.

In Monday's $400,000 race, Endorsed will attempt to prove he can be as effective racing two turns as around one when he takes a full lap around the Lone Star Park main track. 

Though the 7-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro   is receiving class relief in the Steve Sexton Mile, having just raced against his skilled half brother, 2022 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) hero Cody's Wish , in the Churchill Downs Stakes, Monday's competition is challenging.

Set Hut's Touchuponastar , riding a six-race win streak against Louisiana-breds, has run graded-quality speed figures this year. After winning the March 26 Star Guitar Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots with a 122 Equibase Speed Figure, he recorded a 111 in taking the Evangeline Classic Stakes by 9 1/4 lengths at Evangeline Downs May 6.

By comparison, Endorsed earned a 107 in winning the March 4 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2).

Video: EVD Classic S. (BT)

Regular jockey Timothy Thornton is aboard Touchuponastar for trainer Jeff Delhomme, whose brother, retired National Football League quarterback Jake Delhomme, heads Set Hut.

Other Steve Sexton Mile runners with sharp stakes form include Sunland Park Handicap winner Mine That Star  plus Frosted Grace  and Kapuma, both last-race runner-ups in Arkansas and Kentucky, respectively.

Stakes Winners Curly Jack, Hayes Strike, Eyeing Clover Battle in Texas Derby

A couple of races before the Steve Sexton Mile, 3-year-olds race in the $300,000 Texas Derby at 1 1/16 miles on the main track. It also attracted numerous shippers, some of whom were on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail for a period this spring.

After a promising juvenile campaign, Michael McLoughlin's Curly Jack , last year's Iroquois Stakes (G3) winner for trainer Tom Amoss, seeks to bounce back from three consecutive rear-half finishes in graded stakes in 2023.

Also dropping in class from graded company are Rarified Flair , How Did He Do That , Hayes Strike , Single Ruler , and Harlocap . The field also includes talented up-and-comers Black Powder  and Eyeing Clover .

All of the race participants, as well as those in the Steve Sexton Mile, race with the diuretic Lasix, a medication used to prevent respiratory bleeding in horses.

Only in-state, at-track bettors will be able to wager on Monday's races from Lone Star due to no domestic simulcasting of Thoroughbred meets out of state. Lone Star lost the right to export its Thoroughbred signal because the track and the Texas Racing Commission refused to comply with Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority rules, a conflict that began in July. Total handle has plunged since.