Field Pass looks to pass $1 million mark in Texas Turf Classic

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Field Pass has been an outstanding runner for Three Diamonds Farm and trainer Mike Maker during his four years on the track, and on Saturday at Lone Star Park he could become a millionaire in the $300,000 Texas Turf Classic.

The 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up anchors the Summer Turf Festival, a collection of four stakes worth a cumulative $750,000 on the nine-race card. Field Pass will start from the rail in the Texas Turf Classic, which is set to scratch down to seven horses with the defection of Cellist, winner of the Grade 3 Louisville last out at Churchill Downs.

“We just had a little issue and couldn’t make the race,” said trainer Rusty Arnold.

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Field Pass is another who last raced at Churchill, running third by a neck in the Grade 3 Arlington on June 4. The effort pushed his career earnings to $965,468. The five-time graded winner launched his career in the summer of 2019.

“He’s been great,” Maker said Thursday. “I remember starting him as a 2-year-old up here at Saratoga. He’s been a fun horse for us, from California to the East Coast. He’s been everywhere. We might as well go to Lone Star.”

Maker has had a good deal of turf stakes success in Texas, most notably winning a record seven runnings of the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston.

Field Pass got the call for the Texas Turf Classic following the cancellation of the Wise Dan at Churchill, said Maker. Javier Castellano has the mount Saturday.

“I think he’ll be up close,” Maker said. “He’s a horse that’s very tactical. We’ll leave it up to Javier.”

Maker also has entered Megacity, who will break from post 2 under Joe Rocco Jr. He’s a confirmed front-runner.

“That’s him,” said Maker.

Megacity is a six-time winner looking for his first stakes victory. He races for Michael Dubb.

The local contingent includes Popular Kid, who comes off a runner-up finish in a mile allowance June 16. Earlier in the meet, he was fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Grade 3, $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile. Popular Kid is a stakes winner looking for his first win on turf, a surface over which the 15-time winner has made 16 starts. His last start on turf was a runner-up finish over the local course in an allowance April 30.

“His numbers are good on the grass, so we’re hoping,” said trainer Shawn Davis. “He’s an old warrior. He runs every time you bring him up there, whether dirt or grass. He comes to try.”

Popular Kid will break from post 7 under Jose Alvarez.

“He likes to be placed somewhat forward,” Davis said. “He doesn’t have to have the front.”

The field also includes Perfect Star, a half-brother to Grade 1 winner her Emmynency, who exits an allowance that has produced three next-out winners, and Sonneman, who exits the same main-track allowance as Popular Kid.

Grand Prairie Turf Sprint

There is no shortage of speed in the $150,000 Grand Prairie Turf Sprint and a hot pace would serve the cause of a hot horse in Excess Magic.

“When he gets in the clear, he’s got a very good turn of foot,” said trainer Bret Calhoun.

Excess Magic is looking for his third straight win, and his second straight stakes. He captured the Chamberlain Bridge in his last start May 30 at Lone Star. That race followed a local allowance score. Both races were run over the same five-eighths of a mile distance he will travel Saturday.

“Excess Magic is an extremely consistent horse,” said Calhoun, who trains the 4-year-old for his breeder, William Reed. “He’s done a little bit of everything, short, long. We felt like moving forward against older horses this year, probably shorter would be better. I think five-eighths is a little short. I think five and a half is better, and three-quarters even better.”

Reylu Gutierrez has the mount from post 3 in the field of 11.

Other top contenders include High Limit Room, who is coming off back-to-back turf sprint stakes placings at Monmouth Park; Archidust, who is looking for the seventh stakes win of his career; Empire of Gold, who is making a rare appearance on the grass; and Rebel Posse, who comes off an allowance prep win June 9 at Lone Star.

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◗ The stakes action opens with the $150,000 Wasted Tears for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Popular Kid’s connections, Davis and owner George A. Sharp, have an interesting prospect in Lavender, who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Zafisio.

◗ Yes It’s Ginger is back to defend her title in the $150,000 Chicken Fried Stakes for fillies and mares at five furlongs on turf. She was fourth last out in a Fair Grounds stakes that has produced three next-out stakes winners. Gutierrez has the mount for trainer Greg Foley.