Assault Stakes
$75.00 – For Three Year Olds And Upward Foaled In TX
1 Mile – Turf
Lone Star Park – July 11, 2026

Popular cultural mythos is that everything is bigger in Texas. That  doesn’t necessarily carry over to Texas horse racing although this race honors one of the biggest Texas thoroughbred success stories. If there is a bigger one, I can’t think of it. Saturday will be the seventeenth running of the Assault Stakes that honors the only Texas bred winner of the Triple Crown… so of course the race that honors him is on the grass (sarcasm). Aside from maybe Sir Barton he was probably the least likely winner. He was a TX bred but hailed from the mighty and legendary King Ranch but aside from that he was kind of club footed and crooked. You can’t help but love an underdog and that is exactly what he was. Today he would probably be a vet scratch but we are lucky to have him as part of racing lore and legend and no matter what surface the race is on he is deserving of a lasting legacy and remembrance. There will be eight horses going to the gate including two from leading Texas breeder Luz International. Are there any underdogs worthy of the race’s namesake?

1. Allegedly (Night Rider Stables/R.E. Eramia) He started in this race a couple of years ago and he didn’t make an impact but he does have a graded stakes placing to his credit as well as having won the TX HOF Stakes twice. His over $500.00 in earnings show that he is capable and he comes in off of a winning race at Churchill Downs in a $50.00 claimer which could give the seven year old a confidence boost to make him contend here. With early speed the rail draw can help. 

2. The Stars At Night (Luz International/J.L. Alvarez) The first entry from Luz International is coming off of a win in the TX HOF Stakes a few weeks ago. He dominated that race winning by three lengths. Two of his rivals that day come back to try him again (Rumble Red and Censored Hate) and both will need to improve as there is no shift in weights. Also won the King Stakes for TX breds in March and is showing speed in morning works. Top contender. 

3. Swamp Reaper (The Sidley Stud/L.J. Luzzi) The Sidley Stud is also sending two to the post including this three year old who showed some early promise as a two year old but hasn’t yet shown that same form in his sophomore year. He placed second in the Laffitte at Delta Downs and has only one top three placing in seven subsequent starts. It is worth noting that the one placing was in the TTA Derby for TX breds restricted to three year olds. Gets a weight break as a three year old. With only one start on the grass there is no surface form of note. 

4. Core Four (Onlineracingclub..com/D. Cabrera) He was claimed for $15.00 in May and has made one start for his new barn which was a good second in the Ring the Bell Texas Stakes sprinting on the grass. That was his stakes debut. He was closing fast that day and only missed by a half length so going longer might suit him. His one start at a mile was a closing third. Works are encouraging.

5. Tudor Vate (The Sidley Stud/F. Wethey Jr.) The second entry from The Sidley Stud is making his second start for the barn since being claimed for $5.00 in February. He finished fifth in an optional claiming race for TX breds which would hardly seem to be encouragement to step up into stakes company. What’s changed? Well, the ultimate equipment change. He has been gelded. Works don’t seem to show a bump since the gelding but will have to give him a chance to show it on the track. 

6. Ikea Sweep (Blue Ridge Racing/A.J. Juarez Jr.) Won the TX bred Hanks Memorial Stakes a few weeks back and has good form in statebred stakes races having now won three of those in his career. He likes to be forwardly placed but can stalk with his one route win coming from slightly off the pace. With his consistency expect him to be in the mix. 

7. Rumble Red (Luz International/E. Asmussen) Second entry from Luz International was soundly beaten by his stablemate The Stars At Night just a month ago. He is a speedster and he set the pace that day until fading late and finishing three lengths behind in fourth. The Assault Stakes is a sixteenth of a mile less and that can only help his chances. He has credentials of his own with a win in the HOU Turf Stakes in February where he beat The Stars At Night. That race was at 1 1/16 miles but he also carried two pounds less than his barnmate that day. Note that he led the Assault last year before fading to third late in the race. Last work was a second slower than previous. Looks like different instructions with a much slower first quarter but backers be aware. 

8. Censored Hate (Oneonta Racing/R.A. Vasquez) He is the second three year old in the race and he is a winner of four of seven starts restricted to TX breds. He made his stakes debut in his last race where he finished solid third in the TX HOF Stakes three lengths behind The Stars At Night and edging Rumble Red. He was getting an eight pound advantage that day and they will be at the same weights again. He sat further back than normal in that last race and had too much ground to make up to the winner. Draws the outside post and it will be interesting to see if he is forced to drop back again or chooses to stay closer early. 

His last win was so good that I have to make The Stars At Night the choice for the win. I think Core Four will like the extra distance and could threaten so he will be the place pick with Ikea Sweep and Allegedly following in third and fourth. 

Categories: Ungraded