Pletcher Points Lion Tamer Toward Lone Star Park Handicap

Trainer Todd Pletcher is pointing grade I winner Lion Tamer toward the May 30 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III). The 1 1/16-mile race is the centerpiece of the 12-race Memorial Day program.

The Pletcher camp also intends to bring five-time stakes winner Dubleo for the $200,000 Pin Oak Stud USA Stakes (3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf), and, possibly, one of his five nominees for the grade III, $200,000 WinStar Distaff Handicap (fillies and mares at one mile on turf).

Lion Tamer, a winner of 8 races and $816,127 in 17 starts, and Dubleo, a seven-time winner and $410,134-earner in a dozen outings, are scheduled to arrive in Texas Friday. They're booked on an H.E. "Tex" Sutton Forwarding Co. charter flight that will originate from New York and stop in Kentucky before landing in Dallas.

Entries for Monday's Lone Star Million races will be taken Saturday morning.

In addition to Lion Tamer, the field for the Lone Star Park Handicap is expected to include High Strike Zone and Supah Blitz, one-two in the grade III, $300,000 Texas Mile April 30; two-time stakes winner Cryptograph; Roar On Tour, a winner of three in a row, including the Gulf Coast Breeders' Cup Classic at Delta Downs April 2; grade III winner Snorter; defending champ Yesirgeneralsir; grade III Essex Handicap champ Absent Friend; multiple Sunland Park stakes winner Skip and Go; and Wishingitwas, who surprised onlookers with a 38-1 upset in the $100,000 Metroplex Mile at Lone Star on Breeders' Cup Day.