Warleigh, winner of the $200,000 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap, was installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's $200,000 Dallas Turf Cup at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. The 6-year-old son of Lord at War, who was third last time out in the Dixie (gr. IIT) on the Preakness undercard, is the 119-pound high weight in a field of seven for the 1 1/8-mile handicap."We've been to the well quite a bit with him," trainer Steve Asmussen said of his multiple stakes winner. "He's run some unbelievably great races for us and all we want is another one."Shane Sellers, who teamed with Asmussen to win four stakes at Lone Star Park on Memorial Day, will fly in to ride Warleigh. Southern California-based Star Over the Bay was made the 3-1 second choice. Trainer Mike Mitchell, who won the Texas Mile (gr. III) at Lone Star Park in April with Kela, claimed the 6-year-old gelding out of his last start at Hollywood Park with the Dallas Turf Cup in mind."I thought I'd be shaking for the horse, but I was the only one to put in a claim," Mitchell said. "I was surprised a lot of people hadn't seen what I saw. I was delighted when I saw the race. He went to the lead and I thought maybe he was going too fast, but he just kept going."Star Over the Bay won that one-mile affair in a blazing 1:33. Mitchell has secured the services of jockey Jon Court, a top 10 rider in the Hollywood standings. Star Over the Bay will carry 115 pounds.Another shipping in for a crack at some Texas money is Kentucky-based Della Francesca, 9-2, winner of the Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT). Trainer Niall O'Callaghan's 5-year-old son of Danzig was a group I winner in France but has been inconsistent in the United States. Della Francesca, tacking 118 pounds, will make his second start off a long layoff and gets the services of leading jockey Eddie Martin Jr.
The Dallas Turf Cup field also includes regionally-based threat Waupaca (6-1 morning line, 117 pounds), a three time stakes winner in Louisiana who is perfect in six starts on a firm courseAgrivating General (8-1, 117) is a two-time Premiere Stakes winner looking to become the first four-time winner of the meeting.Eight-year-old Maysville Slew (10-1, 115) would become a millionaire with a win in his 64th start.A to the Z (20-1, 115), the Sunland Park Handicap winner, makes his turf debut.$200,000, Dallas Turf Cup Handicap, 3 & up, 1 1/8 mile on turf
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, ML Odds
1. Waupaca (KY), Kevin Leon Cogburn, 117, 6/1
2. A to the Z (CA), Donald R. Pettinger, 115, 20/1
3. Della Francesca (PA), Eddie M. Martin, Jr., 118, 9/2
4. Warleigh (KY), Shane J. Sellers, 119, 8/5
5. Star Over the Bay (FL), Jon Kenton Court, 115, 3/1
6. Agrivating General (TX), Casey T. Lambert, 117, 8/1
7. Maysville Slew (KY), Monte Clifton Berry, 115, 10/1