Von Hemel prepares for a big day

After a few slow days, activity picked up this morning at Lone Star. Trainer Donnie Von Hemel had his two graded stakes winners, Brownie Points and Going Ballistic, out for some serious work in preparation for Lone Star Million Day, May 26. He also had unbeaten Euphony, as well the veteran Waupaca, out for easy half-miles.

Spotting him two lengths at the start, Brownie Points worked five furlongs in company with Lucky Striker. A winner of $686,000 and the runner-up most recently in the Apple Blossom Handicap, Brownie Points moved to the outside at the top of the Lone Star stretch, turned in a 24-second final quarter-mile, and ran down Lucky Striker with only moderate encouragement from jockey Luis Quinonez. Brownie Points finished two lengths ahead of her stablemate, completing the distance in 1:01.02 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.12. She’ll make her next start, Von  Hemel said, in the $200,000 Ouija Board. And keep an eye on Lucky Striker, an unraced 3-year-old. That was a good work (1:01.80) for him, too, especially since he was carrying a big exercise rider, not a jockey.

Going Ballistic, who could surpass a million dollars in earnings with a good showing in the $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40. It was most impressive since he did it alone, without a workmate to encourage him. Euphony, who could make her Lone Star debut in the $100,000 Cinemine, worked a half-mile in 50.40. And Waupaca went an easy half in 49.40.

Cheese Factory continues to train sharply. An unraced 3-year-old from Jack Bruner’s barn, Cheese Factory worked five furlongs in a flat minute and could have gone faster. Shortly after the workout began, he had to be checked to avoid a galloper who was down on the rail, contrary to protocol. Gary Reckner, the official clocker, had Cheese Factory galloping out six furlongs in 1:13. If Cheese Factory doesn’t leave his best effort on the track in the morning, he could win his debut here.

Woodforest showed some ability in a five-furlong move, running the final quarter-mile in 24.59 to complete the distance in 1:00.82. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.67. Second Thoughts, another from the Von Hemel barn, was best of three out of the gate. He actually was last as the trio came by the grandstand and entered the turn – the gate sits up the 1 1/4-mile chute in the mornings. But the exercise rider tapped him, and Second Thoughts took off to move by Kristys Dove Hunt and Durty Whit, who worked a half-mile in 48.60. Second Thoughts continued on to work five furlongs in 1:01.40.