Sir Bear Works Toward Lone Star Park Handicap

Barbara Smollin's Sir Bear worked five furlongs at Calder Monday morning and is likely to contest the $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) on May 27. The 9-year-old gelding breezed five furlongs in 1:02 2/5.

"We haven't made a final decision, but that looks like the most likely spot," said trainer Ralph Ziadie Monday morning. "We had considered the MassCap but that race looks awfully tough."

The $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap (gr. II) on June 1 is likely to attract defending winner Include and champion Macho Uno, with Mongoose and Evening Attire also possible.

Ziadie left open the possibility of a run in the $100,000 Memorial Day Handicap (gr. III) at Calder but is leaning toward the Texas race.

"He's getting older now and we want for him to earn as much as he can this year," the conditioner said. "If the race here were $200,000, we might more likely stay home. But then, you know he just never has run one of his best races over this track despite the fact that he thrives on training here."

The son of Sir Leon has earned over $2.5 million and has won the Skip Away Handicap (gr. III) and finished third in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. I) in two starts this year. He finished second in last year's MassCap and has a win over the Lone Star surface, having won the Texas Mile Stakes (gr. III) there in 2000.