Patrol stalks and pounces in Turf Cup

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Patrol changed tactics Saturday, using a stalking style to win the $250,000 Dallas Turf Cup at Lone Star Park by a length over Slew the Red. It was another length back in third to Storybook Kid.

The Dallas Turf Cup was the third leg in the NTRA Summer Pick 3. Sightseek won the first leg, the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park, while Wild and Wicked won the second leg, the Grade 2 Ohio Derby at Thistledown. On a $2 bet, the 2-6-6 combination returned $29.40.

Patrol ($4.60), who set the pace last out in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve at Churchill Downs, instead was positioned behind the leaders early in the Dallas Turf Cup by jockey Mike Luzzi.

Patrol sat in third, as Honorable Pic led the field through fractions of 23.71 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.16 for the half-mile while under pressure from Best of K C.

Patrol overtook those two at the top of the stretch, then held Slew the Red at bay during the drive. Patrol covered the 1 1/8 miles over firm turf in 1:48.75.

Luzzi rode the winner for trainer Bill Mott. Wet weather forced Mott to scratch Patrol from two recent stakes, including the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont.

The 4-year-old Patrol earned $150,000 for the win in the Dallas Turf Cup, which was his third in a stakes and sixth overall from 10 career starts. His earnings now stand at $398,920.