Tough To Bee is among hopefuls starting in Friday's Texas Classic Derby (G1) trials at Lone Star Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX—OCTOBER 17, 2017— Tough To Bee and Dash Quick Perry are among the 48 3-year-olds entered in Friday’s 440-yard Texas Classic Derby (G1) trials at Lone Star Park.

Trained by Trey Wood for owner Paragon Farms LLC, Tough To Bee is coming off of a Ruidoso Downs summer campaign during which the Apollitical Jess gelding won two stakes, including the 400-yard, $1-million Ruidoso Derby (G1) on June 10. Tough To Bee drew post 9 and will be ridden by Ricky Ramirez in the last of five trials.

Tough To Bee’s nine opponents in the fifth heat include Dash Quick Perry, a homebred son of Down N Dash trained by Leon Bard for owner Pete A. Scarmardo of Caldwell, Texas. The gelding brings in a three-race win streak that includes a 1 1/2-length victory as the 3-5 favorite in the 400-yard, $157,000 Retama Park Derby on July 29.

Francisco Calderon will ride Dash Quick Perry from post 10.

Other prominent 3-year-olds entered in the Texas Classic Derby trials include Double A Ranch’s Paint My Pilot, a brown son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon trained by Jorge L. Gonzalez for owner Double A Ranch LLC. Paint My Pilot is coming off of a neck victory in the 440-yard, $213,000 Dash For Cash Derby (G3) at Lone Star on September 30.

Paint My Pilot drew post 9 and will be ridden by Yordanis Amaro in the fourth trial.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the November 11, $400,000-est. Texas Classic Derby final.

The Texas Classic Derby trials, and all Lone Star Park races, can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.