Bluesthestandard, winner of five in a row including last month's Texas Mile (gr. III), is working like he's ready for a return to Grand Prairie in Monday's $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III), the feature race on Lone Star Million Day.The 6-year-old gelding worked six furlongs in 1:12 on Tuesday, according to the official Equibase record. Trainer Ted West Jr. said he caught Bluesthestandard in 1:11 3/5."It was great, which is typical for him," West said. "He just kind of pulled the rider around there on his own. He's a great work horse. Well, he's good in the afternoons, too, but he's good in the mornings."Bluesthestandard has also had two blazing four-furlong workouts since the Texas Mile - one in :46 and one in :46 3/5."Those times are all done under wraps," West said. "We don't ask him at all in the mornings. He just does it on his own every time." In the Texas Mile on April 26, Bluesthestandard drew away in the stretch to win by an impressive four lengths. Despite running the fastest eight furlongs of the meeting in 1:35 3/5, the winner of consecutive graded stakes bounced back from the effort like it was little more than a morning jog."He came out perfect, never missed a note," West said. "I thought that was impressive, considering he had to fly back here and van to Santa Anita. He's a really tough horse."In fact, the trainer thinks that Bluesthestandard is better now than he was last month. West noted that his gelding has gained some weight and looks even sharper than he did coming into the Texas Mile.
"I think he improves after every race," West said.Bluesthestandard was the first favorite to win the Texas Mile. West is anxious to come back for the Lone Star Park Handicap after seeing how well his horse took to the surface."I think the result [of the Texas Mile] speaks for itself," West said. "Visually, he seemed to handle it just fine. And the way he came out of the race shows how kind the track was to him." Martin Pedroza, a Southern California veteran who was aboard for the Texas Mile, has the return mount on Memorial Day.Others probables for the Lone Star Park Handicap include:
-- Keats, who was about four lengths back of Harlan's Holiday in the Donn Handicap (gr. I);
-- Maysville Slew, the 7-year-old veteran who has earned more than $700,000;
-- Mr. John, winner of the Cornhusker Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) at Prairie Meadows;
-- Parrott Bay, who was a neck from winning the National Jockey Club Handicap (gr. III) in his last start;
-- Pass Rush, winner of the San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita and second to Aldebaran in the Churchill Downs Handicap (gr. II) last out.
