Field Pass © Benoit Photo
Responding to an early pull on the trigger by rider Umberto Rispoli, the gray colt Field Pass made the lead in the middle of the backstretch and then hung tough late to capture the Grade II, $251,000 Seabiscuit Handicap Saturday at Del Mar.
The 4-year-old by Lemon Drop Kid ran the mile and one-sixteenth on grass in 1:41.85 and just held off the 9-10 favorite Sacred Life by a head at the wire. Finishing third three-quarters of a length back was Indian Peak.
Field Pass is trained by Mike Maker, who was scoring his first stakes victory at Del Mar. The colt earned $150,000 for his triumph and pushed his career earnings to $913,143. It was his eighth overall win in his 23 start.
Field Pass races for the Three Diamonds Farm of Walter Wycoff in Fort Washington, PA. Sacred Life runs in the colors of a partnership headed by Michael Dubb and Madaket Stables. Indian Peak is owned by Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber.
Field Pass returned $9.00, $3.40 and $3.00 across the board. Sacred Life paid $2.80 and $2.20, while Indian Peak returned $6.20.
The Seabiscuit was one of three Graded stakes on the Saturday Del Mar program. The other two were the Grade III, $100,000 Jimmy Durante Stakes and the Grade I, $400,000 Hollywood Derby.
UMBERTO RISPOLI (Field Pass, winner) – “I didn’t want to stop the stride of my horse. (He made an early run when he cut his mount loose in the middle of the backstretch.) He was running happy and I was happy, too. He fought hard late and we got there first.”
NOLAN RAMSEY, assistant to Mike Maker (Field Pass, winner) – “He (Rispoli) made that move yesterday (winning) on Red Storm Risen and they went 48 to the half so I figured clearly he knew more than I did. He’s one of those horses that once you make the move there’s no turning back. He’s a classy horse who has gotten the job done in a lot of places and I’m very proud of him.”
FRACTIONS: :23.77 :48.19 1:12.26 1:36.02 1:41.85
The stakes win was the second of the current meet for rider Rispoli but his first in the Seabiscuit. He now has 12 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the first at Del Mar for trainer Maker.
The winning owner is Three Diamonds Farm (of Walter Wycoff of Fort Washington, PA).