Numbers add up to big edge for Brown in Fort Marcy and Intercontinental

ELMONT, N.Y. – Flop Shot, a Group 3 winner in Europe, and Instilled Regard, a Grade 2 winner in the United States, are part of a solid four-horse contingent trainer Chad Brown starts in Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Fort Marcy Stakes, scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Belmont Park.

Brown said owner Peter Brant purchased Flop Shot with races like the Manhattan and Arlington Million in mind. At 2, Flop Shot was second to the Brant-owned Sottsass, who went on to become Europe’s top-rated 3-year-old in 2019. At 3, Flop Shot won a Group 3 at 1 1/8 miles and twice finished behind the well-regarded Headman in 1 1/4-mile stakes in France.

“He gave Peter the feeling that he could stay mile and a quarter in America, so we had earmarked him as a potential Manhattan, Arlington Million type of horse,” Brown said “Hopefully, that comes to fruition.”

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There does not appear to be a lot of speed in the Fort Marcy, which may play in Flop Shot’s favor.

“He hasn’t given me the impression that he’s keen or difficult or pulls, but given the possible lack of pace, if he is forwardly placed it would be a good thing,” Brown said.

Javier Castellano rides Flop Shot from post 4.

Instilled Regard, who at Gulfstream won the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale and was third in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf, is trying to rebound from a sixth-place finish as the favorite in the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial at Fair Grounds.

“To me, the horse was traveling during the race like he didn’t handle the turf well,” Brown said. “I know that’s a bit of a convenient excuse when a turf horse doesn’t run. But he ran so well at Gulfstream and he has since trained very well. As long as the turf is firm, I would expect him to run well.”

Devamani was second in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes, while Tribhuvan was third in an allowance in their first start of the year and first for Brown.

Mike Maker has an uncoupled entry in Somelikeithotbrown, a proven commodity at 1 1/8 miles and potential pace player, and Temple, who is coming off an allowance win at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream.

The Fort Marcy goes as race 6 and is the first of four stakes to be run on Saturday’s card.

Intercontinental Stakes

Devastating at 2 but disappointing at 3, Newspaperofrecord will attempt to resurrect her past glory at 4 when she returns in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Intercontinental Stakes going seven furlongs on turf.

Newspaperofrecord, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner in 2018, is one of four entrants from Brown, including last year’s Intercontinental winner, Significant Form.

Newspaperofrecord has not run since attempting 1 1/4 miles in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks last July 6. Usually a front-runner, Newspaperofrecord was rated off the pace in the Belmont Oaks and finished ninth.

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Brown said Newspaperofrecord has been “training brilliantly” entering her 4-year-old campaign, which he said will be made up of races from seven furlongs to a mile.

“She’s done everything I’ve asked her to do,” Brown said. “Whether she wins or not, she’s training well enough to show me she’s sound and focused on running this season. As long as I don’t mismanage her or take her out of that mindset, she should be fine.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Newspaperofrecord from post 5.

Significant Form breaks from the outside post in an 11-horse field for turf. She is 3 for 5 at Belmont, all the wins coming in Grade 3 stakes.

Regal Glory, a two-time stakes winner at Saratoga, makes her 4-year-old debut, while Viadera, whom Brown tried to run in an allowance at Churchill but didn’t get in, completes Brown’s quartet.

Jakarta has won 5 of 6 starts since Maker and Three Diamonds Farm claimed her for $16,000 last August. She stretched her speed out to a mile winning the Powder Break Stakes on dirt last month at Gulfstream.

Saratoga Treasure makes her first start since winning the Autumn Days Stakes at Aqueduct last December. Rose Flower and Getmotherarose are other contenders in this field.