(Grand Prairie, Texas - Friday, October 18, 2019) - There were five Texas Classic Derby trials tonight at Lone Star Park, races 7 through 11, but the field was set in stone after race 9. First up was Paragon Farms' Flying Cowboy 123, as expected, setting the bar for the rest to aspire to. The son of Apollitical Jess out of Hot Cash 123, by Takin On the Cash, clocked the 440 yards in :21.576 seconds. The time held as fastest of the night.

Qualifying from race 7 along with Flying Cowboy 123 was second placed Coach a Comin, a gelding also by Apollitical Jess out of Fantastic Follies, by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, and third placed Wii B, a colt by Mighty B Valliant out of Devil Wears Prada B, by Fdd Dynasty.

The top four finishers made it into the field from the second trial (race 8). Winning it was Fm Cartel Rock, by One Sweet Jess out of Remember the Cartel, by Corona Cartel. Second was favorite American Hussle, followed by Viva Le Don and Mm Fourinthemorning.

In race 9, the third trial, it was First True Heart, the longest shot of the meet, winning with the seventh fastest time of the trials. The second and third place finishers from this, Jess Master Angel and favorite Midday News, were the final two qualifiers. 

Here is the field for the 27th running of the $344,572 Texas Classic Derby (G1) final to be held on Saturday, November 9:

  *Won trial

New Track Record Set

In the fifth race tonight, a maiden race for three-year-olds & up, Finito Dash, a three-year-old gelding by Tempting Dash out of Leading Chickie, by Special Leader, bested the current track record of :11.729 set in 2012 by Sparrow Contender. Finito Dash clocked the 220 yards in :11.706 seconds. It was worth a speed index of 111. Congrats to his owner Tomas Villarreal, Jr., trainer Angel Sanchez and jockey Jose Ivan Martinez.