A FORMFUL NIGHT FOR THE TEXAS CLASSIC DERBY TRIALS? NOT EVEN CLOSE!
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Friday, October 19, 2018) – The trials have run and the field is set for the 26th edition of the Grade 1, $378,810 Texas Classic Derby. There were some unexpected qualifiers which made the racing interesting. The track was listed as sloppy (sealed) for all five 440-yard trials. Luckily the rain ceased before the action started.
The fastest time of the night went to Curls Happy Wagon ($13.60) who clocked in at 21.417 seconds in race nine. Second place finisher in the ninth also qualified. This Is a Deal Too crossed the wire in 21.470 seconds making him the fourth fastest of the night.
Only one favorite won their trial tonight and that was the winner of race 7, Df Aj Green Leaves ($4.80). The filly’s time was 21.548 which was the eighth fastest. Another Shot finished second in that race and his time of 21.584 qualified him as the ninth fastest.
Four qualified from the tenth race, 20-1 longshot Serendipity Rocks ($42.80) crossed the wire first in 21.466 seconds, followed by Intense Fire at 21.509. Third place finisher Hotstepper, the American Derby Winner, qualified with a time of 21.533. Dash For Stone ran fourth and was able to make it into the final with the tenth fastest time of 21.585.
The two other qualifiers came from the final trial of the night. In race 11, Hes Limitless ($5.80) was first at the wire qualifying with the second fastest time of the night, 21.432. Retama Park Derby winner Three Bar Cartel placed second in the tenth and his time of 21.508 was fifth fastest.
Here is the final field for the 2018 Grade 1, $376,810 Texas Classic Derby to be run on Saturday, November 10:
| Horse | Time | Jockey | Trainer | Trial # |
| Curls Happy Wagon | 21.417 | Jorge Torres | Stacy Charette-Hill | 9 |
| Hes Limitless | 21.432 | Augustin Silva | John Stinebaugh | 11 |
| Serendipity Rocks | 21.466 | Noe Villatoro | Esteban Rubio | 10 |
| This Is a Deal Too | 21.470 | Francisco Calderon | Leon Bard | 9 |
| Three Bar Cartel | 21.508 | Jesse Levario | Josue Ponce | 11 |
| Intense Fire | 21.509 | Omar Reyes | Clinton Crawford | 10 |
| Hotstepper | 21.533 | Cody Jensen | Sleepy Gilbreath | 10 |
| Df Aj Green Leaves | 21.548 | Rodrigo Vallejo | Jimmy Padgett | 7 |
| Another Shot | 21.584` | Ricky Ramirez | Blane Wood | 7 |
| Dash For Stone | 21.585 | Jorge Linares | Robert Meche | 10 |
Live racing continues tomorrow, Saturday, October 20 with 14 Grade 1, $1 million Texas Classic Futurity Trials on the line-up. Gates open at 5 p.m. First race post time 6:05 p.m.
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Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, a Class I racetrack operated by Texas Partners LSP and Global Gaming LSP. The track’s 16-day 2018 Quarter Horse Season opens Friday, September 21, and concludes on Saturday, November 10. Live racing will be held two days a week, Friday and Saturday at 6:05 p.m. For more information on Lone Star Park visit LoneStarPark.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Lone Star Park is also home to the multi-million dollar simulcast racebook, sports bar and event venue, Bar & Book. The 36,000 square foot venue is open to the public 363 days a year.
Global Gaming Solutions, LLC (GGS), is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation with a primary business focus of pursuing entertainment, gaming and racing related opportunities in emerging jurisdictions in the United States and overseas as well as acquisition of regional gaming and entertainment assets. GGS LLC is the parent company of GG RP, which owns Remington Park in Oklahoma City, OK and GG LSP, which owns a significant stake in Lone Star Park. GG LSP is the track operator who owns the license to operate Lone Star Park and leases the property from the Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corporation.