Cyrus Alexander Captures the Lone Star Park Handicap

Memorial Day is the unofficial kickoff of summer and in the warm, humid air under the late May sun at Lone Star Park, this was apparent. The suffocating Texas heat is just around the corner but the racing action at the Grand Prairie, Texas, track is in the middle of its Thoroughbred season. The highlight of the meet, took place today before a sizable holiday crowd: the $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III), and Cyrus Alexander stole the show.

Paired with the Texas Mile Stakes (gr. III) contested in early May, the Lone Star Park Handicap is the final leg of the Texas Two-Step – a feat accomplished by winning both of Lone Star’s graded stakes, and one that has only been achieved three times since the racetrack was founded in 1997. This year, however, this title was not up for grabs, as Texas Mile winner – Vince Wilfork’s Great Minds – opted for the Evangeline Mile Stakes on June 4 at Evangeline Downs instead.

Texas Mile runner-up Shotgun Kowboy was sent off as the favorite in a field of seven that included the graded stakes-placed Rocket Time, Southern California shipper and 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver's half-brother Cyrus Alexander, graded stakes winner and Texas Mile third place finisher Carve,and three classy Texas breds – including Premiere Stakes winner and recent course record setter Supermason and 2014 Texas Champion Three-Year-Old Male F J Uncle Vic.

In the end, it was Cyrus Alexander who crossed the wire first. Sent off as the second betting choice, the four-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro broke well from the third post and settled into third around the clubhouse turn as Supermason – who broke the course record for seven and one-half furlongs on Lone Star's turf 15 days ago – blazed to the front.

Through an opening quarter of 23.37, Cyrus Alexander remained 3 ½ lengths off the pace beneath jockey Martin Garcia. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee maintained his third place position as Supermason widened his lead down the backstretch, stretching his advantage on the field to 4 ½ lengths as he set a blistering first half-mile in 45.90.

But as Supermason began to tire around the far turn, Cyrus Alexander began to advance. He collared the favorite, Shotgun Kowboy, around the bend and grabbed the lead with authority as the field turned for home. Although Shotgun Kowboy refused to give up at the top of the stretch, Cyrus Alexander dug in deep and drew away to capture the first graded stakes win of his career.

The final time for the grade three event was 1:43.12 that was upgraded from good to fast earlier in the afternoon. Bred by WinStar Farm and owned by Spendthrift Farm and Stonestreet Stables, Cyrus Alexander’s victory boosted his career earnings to $299,205.