Fire Tricks placed first after stewards' inquiry in Isaac Murphy Handicap

Fire Tricks scored the first stakes win of her career and the first for owner-breeder Meryl Squires-Cannon, when she was elevated to first by the disqualification of Frabster in the Isaac Murphy Handicap for Illinois-bred fillies and mares Saturday at Arlington.

Frabster finished first, Fire Tricks second, and Scarlet Power third, but in deep stretch, Frabster and jockey Tim Thornton moved inside several paths, taking away the rail from a steadily closing Scarlet Power but causing her rider, Israel Ocampo, to check sharply. A stewards’ inquiry quickly was launched, followed by an objection from Ocampo, and the judges did not take long returning their verdict and placing Frabster third.

“We got lucky today,” said Eddie Perez, who rode Fire Tricks.

Kip Berries, the 2013 Isaac Murphy winner, broke sharply and was hustled to the lead by Florent Geroux, setting moderate splits of 22.98 seconds and 46.57 while pressed by Algonquin Posse, Frabster, and Stormin Elle over a Polytrack that had carried speed Friday and Saturday.

But the pace players, save Frabster, threw in the towel at the top of the stretch, with Scarlet Power rallying on the inside, Fire Tricks on the outside. Frabster hit the wire first, but her number did not stay up long, a tough beat for connections that had claimed the filly for just $20,000 April 27.

Frabster was timed in 1:11.58 for six furlongs on Polytrack, while Fire Tricks paid $39.60 winning her sixth race from 27 starts. Trained by Sharon Wilson, Fire Tricks, a 5-year-old mare by Hat Trick, has nibbled at the edges of Illinois-bred stakes races for a couple years now while scoring wins on turf, dirt, and Polytrack.

“She’s a really tough horse – a little mean but tough,” said Squires-Cannnon.

Stormin Elle, the 2-1 favorite, finished unplaced.