GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas--Suances was on cruise control throughout to win the $250,000 Dallas Turf Cup wire to wire at Lone Star Park on Saturday, a race that served as the first leg of a national pick three completed by the Grade 2 Hollywood Breeder's Cup Oaks at Hollywood Park and the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs.
     In the Dallas Turf Cup, Suances moved to the lead shortly after the start of the 1 1/8-mile race, and led the field through an opening six furlongs in 1:12.60. He continued to control the race through a mile in 1:36.90 before winning by 1 1/2 lengths over a late-running Our Main Man. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third to Candid Glen.
     Suances covered the 1 1/8 miles over firm turf in 1:49.09 under David Flores, who never moved on the horse in the stretch. "I was just guiding him to the wire," said Flores, aboard for trainer Darrell Vienna. "He was just doing it all himself. This, I think is a great horse. He looks in the future to be a Breeders' Cup horse." Flores has won 14 stakes in 31 mounts at Lone Star.
     Racing has come easy for Suances, a winner of seven races in nine career starts, and the 118-pound highweight in Saturday's nine-horse field. He finished third in his debut in Spain, then reeled off six straight wins, culminating with a six-length route in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat in France in June 2000.
     Soon afterward, Suances's development hit a roadblock when he severed a hind leg ligament preparing for the American Derby at Arlington. He did not return to the races until March 2002 as a 5-year-old, and finished 10th in the Grade 2 Explosive Bid at Fair Grounds.
     Suances came back in his next start to defeat the Explosive Bid winner, Sarafan, in the San Francisco under regular rider David Flores. He is owned by Red Baron's Barn and is trained by Darrell Vienna, who purchased him in Europe a week before the Jean Prat.
     "I think he's one of the best turf horses in the country, if not the best," said Scott Chaney, assistant to Vienna. "We are extremely confident in his abilities."