Field Pass goes over $1 million with DQ victory in Texas Turf Classic

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Field Pass became a millionaire Saturday at Lone Star Park, when he was placed first in the $300,000 Texas Turf Classic following the disqualification of his stablemate Megacity.

The 1 1/8-mile race was the richest of four stakes making up the Summer Turf Festival. Purses for the races totaled $750,000.

Field Pass, at 4-5, and Megacity, at 7-2, raced as separate interests for trainer Mike Maker. Megacity jumped out to the lead at the start and set fractions of 24.10 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.13 for the half-mile and 1:11.23 for six furlongs. In the stretch, the leader worked to fend off Field Pass. Megacity crossed the wire in front by a neck over Field Pass, and covered the distance over a course rated firm in 1:47.61.

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Following the race there was a stewards’ inquiry and shortly afterward Javier Castellano, the rider of Field Pass, claimed foul. The stewards said following the race that Megacity hindered Field Pass both in the stretch and right before the wire and that was the basis for the disqualification.

Castellano liked how the race was initially unfolding for Field Pass ($3.60).

“The horse was right behind the speed, saved all the ground the first turn,” Castellano said. “The second turn, I tried to angle out a little bit, find room. I found it at the top of the stretch, tried to go by, and ended up I couldn’t go by the other horse. The other horse kept drifting a little bit, enough to intimidate my horse and I think that was the reason it cost us the race.”

U S Navy Cross finished third, 3 3/4 lengths behind Field Pass.

The Texas Turf Classic became a target for both Maker trainees following the suspension of turf racing at the most recent meet at Churchill. Field Pass had been pointing for the canceled Wise Dan.

“With the turf racing canceled at Churchill, it made us alter plans on a lot of them,” said Maker.

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Field Pass picked up a first-place check of $177,228, which pushed his career earnings to $1,142,696. It was winning the eighth stakes victory of his career. Field Pass is a 5-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid who races for Three Diamonds Farm.

Stakes double for Elliott

Jockey Stewart Elliott won the first two stakes on the card, when he guided Fairchild to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $150,000 Wasted Tears and Quick Quick Quick to a three-quarter-length win in the $150,000 Chicken Fried Stakes.

Both races were for fillies and mares.

Fairchild ($7.60) sat just off the pace set by Pretty in Pink, who took the field through fractions of 23.57 for the opening quarter, 47.92 for the half-mile, and 1:12.44 for six furlongs. Fairchild took over from there, and went on to cover the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:42.83.

“I had plenty of horse,” Elliott said. “She finished up running.”

Disappearing Act was second and it was another two lengths back in third to Quinn Ella.

Fairchild races for her breeder, Stonestreet Stables, and is trained by Steve Asmussen. She is a daughter of Speightstown and her dam, Samantha Nicole, is a full sister to Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra.

Fairchild came into the Wasted Tears off a third-place finish in a first-level allowance in May at Churchill Downs. She has now won 2 of 7 starts and the first-place check of $88,578 pushed her earnings to $178,978.

In the Chicken Fried, Quick Quick Quick ($13) was always prominent, first tracking Tiz Magic through an opening quarter in 21.56 seconds. She moved past that one and went on to cover five furlongs in 56.63 seconds.

J.R. Caldwell trains Quick Quick Quick for Sheri Rinn and Rick Rinn. Quick Quick Quick is a daughter of Tiago who was winning her first stakes in the Chicken Fried, and the first-place check of $87,084 pushed her career earnings just over $500,000. She is now 11 for 44.

First win back for Cabrera

Jockey David Cabrera, who recently made his comeback after sustaining injuries in a race in April, celebrated his first win back when High Limit Room won a photo over Sign of War in the $150,000 Grand Prairie Turf Sprint.

Cabrera sustained back and facial injuries when he was thrown from his mount in an April 8 race at Oaklawn. He made his return to the saddle July 8 and won with his 11th mount back in the Grand Prairie Turf Sprint.

High Limit Room ($7) caught pacesetter Sign of War by a head while covering five furlongs in 56.14 seconds. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Barristan the Bold.

Jose Camejo trains High Limit Room for Chris Aulds. It was the first stakes win for High Limit Room off back-to-back stakes placings at Monmouth Park.

* Lone Star Park handled $673,742 on the nine-race card from all sources, with $578,025 of that amount bet ontrack by the crowd of 6,769, according to figures provided by the track. Lone Star’s signal has only gone to other sites in Texas and international markets like Canada this month due to an impasse between the Texas Racing Commission and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.