Forbidden Apple good spot for Force the Pass
ELMONT, N.Y. – The way it played out, no one was going to beat Obviously in the Grade 3 Poker Stakes last month when that horse came within 0.02 seconds of an 18-year-old course record for a mile over Belmont Park’s Widener turf course.
Force the Pass was the closest to Obviously, albeit 3 3/4 lengths behind at the finish. On Saturday, Force the Pass returns to New York, but he won’t have to chase Obviously in the $150,000 Forbidden Apple Stakes going a mile over the Widener course.
“I don’t think there were too many horses that would have beaten that horse that day,” said Alan Goldberg, who trains Force the Pass.
Only five runners were entered in the Forbidden Apple, which could serve as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga on Aug. 13, a race that is expected to attract the champion filly Tepin. Force the Pass likely will just have to try to run down King Kreesa, last year’s Forbidden Apple winner.
King Kreesa was chasing Obviously early in the Poker, but Force the Pass went by him rather easily in upper stretch. King Kreesa finished fifth.
Force the Pass, who is still looking for his first win since last year’s Grade 1 Belmont Derby, has come back to work well, including a little blowout on the dirt this week, according to Goldberg.
“I’m going to be disappointed if he gets beat,” Goldberg said. “But I’ve been disappointed more often than not in this game.”
The only two horses in this field to have won a race this year are Tapitation and Brickyard Kitten. Tapitation won the Kingston Stakes for New York-breds, taking advantage of a rapid pace, while Brickyard Kitten won a second-level allowance race at Parx.
Lubash, the two-time reigning New York-bred turf champion, was fourth behind Tapitation and King Kreesa in the Kingston last out.
The Forbidden Apple shares billing with the $125,000 Rockville Centre Stakes for New York-bred juveniles on dirt on a 10-race card that begins at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
KEY CONTENDERS
Force the Pass, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 101-100-91
◗ Myriad issues have limited this colt to just two starts this year, a half-length loss when third in the Grade 3 Appleton at Gulfstream and the runner-up finish to Obviously in the Poker.
◗ Figures to get a stalking trip behind likely pacesetter King Kreesa.
King Kreesa, by King Cugat
Last 3 Beyers: 93-94-93
◗ Trainer David Donk believes King Kreesa runs his best “when he can control the pace.”
“Obviously, he’s had a lot of victories that way,” Donk said. “When you get that scenario, I think you take it.”
◗ He has lost six straight races since winning this race last year.
Tapitation, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 97-90-94
◗ Has won four of his last five, including the Kingston, since returning from a lengthy layoff and being turned over to Ralph Nicks.
◗ In the Kingston, he took advantage of a hot pace, which he probably won’t get here.
“His running style is most effective when there’s pace in the race, but the first time he won for us, he was up close,” Nicks said. “I’m sure he’ll be a lot closer on Saturday than he was the last time.”