Field Pass Seeks Class Relief in BWI Turf Cup

Three Diamonds Farm’s Field Pass , a grade 3 winner on both grass and synthetic, will make his eighth consecutive start against graded company and first at Pimlico Race Course in the July 24 $200,000 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup Stakes (G3T).

The 15th running of the one-mile BWI Turf Cup for 3-year-olds and up headlines a nine-race program featuring four grass stakes worth $500,000 in purses. Launched as the Colonial Turf Cup in 2005, it was held at Colonial Downs through 2013 before moving to Laurel Park in 2015 following a one-year hiatus. It returns after not being part of Maryland’s pandemic-shortened 2020 stakes schedule.

Field Pass has gone winless in three races this year but finished an encouraging fourth last time out, beaten a head for third and less than 3 lengths for all the money, in the June 26 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs.

 The Mike Maker trainee blew out three furlongs in :36 over the Belmont training track July 21.

“He’s doing well,” Maker said. “He had a nice, easy work (Wednesday) morning and he’s ready to go.”

Field Pass has raced exclusively in graded company since running third in last September's American Turf Stakes Presented by Smithfield (G2T) and in nine of his last 12 starts, tallying scores in the the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and Ontario Derby (G3) over all-weather surfaces at Turfway Park and Woodbine, respectively, last spring and fall, as well as last July’s 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T) on the Keeneland turf.

Victor Carrasco is named to ride from the rail in a field of six, with all runners carrying 122 pounds.

“I think the class relief will be the main thing. He ran good in the Maker’s Mark (Mile, G1T) off the layoff so the distance isn’t a concern,” Maker said. “It’s still going to be a tough race, but he’s been hooking some tough guys lately so we’re looking forward to it.”

Other graded winners entered in the BWI Turf Cup are Pixelate  and English Bee .

Godolphin homebred Pixelate comes off a win in the June 13 Prince George’s County Stakes over this turf course. The City Zip colt recorded victories in last year's Del Mar Derby (G2T) and Woodchopper Stakes as a 3-year-old.

“He came out of the last race great,” trainer Michael Stidham said. “It was great to get him back in the winner’s circle. He deserves it. He runs great every time.”

Feargal Lynch gets the call from post 4.

Calumet Farm’s homebred English Bee, a 5-year-old by English Channel  , is still trying to recapture his 2019 form when he won four of eight starts, including the New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3T), James W. Murphy Stakes, and Parx Fall Derby.

English Bee has yet to find the winner's circle since; after two graded stakes-placings last year he has failed to hit the board in two 2021 starts, including a seventh in the Prince George's County Stakes.

Jorge Vargas Jr. has the assignment from post 5.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s homebred Ramsey Solution  will be making the step up to graded competition for the first time.

Ramsey Solution went 4-for-7 in 2020, highlighted by a win in the Tapit Stakes at Kentucky Downs. In his lone start this year he ran second, beaten four lengths by subsequent Wise Dan Stakes winner Set Piece , in the May 29 Douglas Park Stakes at Churchill.

“He ran big last time. We got kind of compromised by the ride but I think there’s a lot more to him, and he’s going to run a big race this time,” trainer Wesley Ward said. “I think after this we’ll have a good opinion of where we need to go from here. This will be the race that kind of determines where we’re at with him, class-level wise.”

Mychel Sanchez will be up for the first time on Ramsey Solution, breaking from outside post 6.