Fort McHenry inconsistent but talented

Fort McHenry can gain a much-needed boost of confidence when the gelding starts for the first time at Golden Gate Fields in a starter allowance for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on Thursday.

Fort McHenry was purchased for $1.1 million at the 2018 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was ninth as the even-money favorite in his stakes debut in the Smooth Air Stakes at Gulfstream Park in November. On Feb. 2 at Aqueduct, Fort McHenry led to the final furlong and finished third in a starter allowance with a $50,000 claiming option as the even-money favorite. Fort McHenry was entered for a $50,000 claiming price.

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Shortly after that race, he was bought privately and transferred from Todd Pletcher to Doug O’Neill. In his debut for O’Neill and new owner Purple Rein Racing, Fort McHenry was sixth of seven in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 7 at Santa Anita as an 87-1 outsider.

Thursday’s race is restricted to 3-year-olds that have not won twice and have started for a claiming price of $50,000 or less. Fort McHenry will have his synthetic-track debut Thursday and will be fitted with blinkers, which he has worn in every start but his last.

A repeat of Fort McHenry’s maiden special weight win at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 2 would be good enough to beat his five rivals in this race. Fort McHenry went wire to wire in that one-mile race and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 83. But Fort McHenry’s erratic recent form is a concern.

Others in the field have had better results of late, even if they have not started in graded stakes.

Bottle of Smoke, Active Pass, and Megameister were the first three finishers in a similar race at a mile on March 5 at Golden Gate. Bottle of Smoke, trained by O.J. Jauregui, has won 2 of 7 starts, but remains eligible for this condition since his first win came in a $12,500 claimer for maidens at a mile on Feb. 15. The conditions of Thursday’s race state that one win in claiming races with values of $20,000 or less does not count against eligibility.

Bottle of Smoke drew the rail on Thursday and is likely to race from a stalking position. Megameister and Mahi Mahi are likely to race near the front. A quick pace would aid Active Pass, who races as a stalker and started for the first time at a mile on March 5 in his third start.