Prep has Force the Pass ready to fire in Fort Marcy

A race under his belt, added distance, and a return to the site of his biggest victory may give Force the Pass an edge in a solid renewal of the Grade 3, $150,000 Fort Marcy Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Force the Pass pulled off a 10-1 upset in last year’s $1 million Belmont Derby but will be a shorter price Saturday in a field that includes the returning Ironicus, horses-for-courses Messi and Legendary, and the inconsistent but sometimes brilliant Red Rifle.

Force the Pass is coming off a half-length defeat in the Grade 3 Appleton at Gulfstream Park on April 2, his first start off a 6 1/2-month layoff.

“It was good,” trainer Alan Goldberg said of the Appleton. “Came back good, too, which is the main thing. He’s doing very well. I expect him to run a good race.”

Ironicus, a multiple Grade 2 winner a year ago, and Messi, the winner of the Grade 3 Knickerbocker here last October, are both coming back off layoffs and issues.

Ironicus set a Saratoga course record in winning the Bernard Baruch last September and is making his first start since then. He cracked a hind cannon bone while training for the Breeders’ Cup Mile and spent most of the winter at Niall Brennan’s farm in Ocala, Fla.

Messi has not run since finishing fifth in the Grade 3 River City at Churchill last November. Trainer Graham Motion said Messi nearly lost an eye as a result of a clod hitting him in that race.

Legendary has lost his last 10 races, but he is 3 for 5 at Belmont, including a victory in the 2014 Knickerbocker.

The Fort Marcy, which drew a field of 10 4-year-olds and up for the turf and one main-track-only entrant, is one of three stakes on a 12-race card that begins at 12:45 p.m. Eastern. Also on tap is the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay, for older fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on turf, and the Grade 3, $150,000 Westchester Stakes at a mile on dirt.

The Fort Marcy goes at 5:44, and then fans can watch the Kentucky Derby simulcast (6:34 p.m.) before the Sheepshead Bay at 7 p.m.

The Sheepshead Bay drew a field of six topped by a pair of Chad Brown trainees – Guapaza and Sea Calisi, a Group 2 winner in France who twice finished third in Group 1 races in 2015. She makes her U.S. debut on Saturday.

FORT MARCY (RACE 10)

KEY CONTENDERS

Force the Pass, by Speightstown

Last 3 Beyers: 100-91-92

◗ Got a more-than-useful prep, finishing third, beaten a half-length by winner Reporting Star, in the Appleton going a mile.

◗ Last year, he stretched out from a mile to 1 1/4 miles to win the Belmont Derby after taking the Penn Mile.

◗ Kendrick Carmouche has picked up the mount.

Ironicus, by Distorted Humor

Last 3 Beyers: 106-106-98

◗ He was on his way to becoming a significant player for the BC Mile when he was sidelined due to injury.

◗ Tries 1 1/8 miles for the first time.

“I got to get started,” trainer Shug McGaughey said. “I think Goldberg’s horse is the horse to beat.”

Messi, by New Approach

Last 3 Beyers: 90-104-86

◗ Motion credited doctors at the New Bolton Equine Hospital with saving this gelding’s eye after it got damaged in the River City Handicap. Motion said he’s taken his time bringing the horse back to the races.

“I feel like he’s fit,” Motion said. “I feel like I’ve been pretty patient. I wasn’t necessarily looking to bring him back in this type of race. But he’s done well at Belmont before, the distance is good for him, and there are not a lot of options without running in a Group 1.”

SHEEPSHEAD BAY (Race 11)

KEY CONTENDERS

Sea Calisi, by Youmazin

◗ A Group 2 winner in France last summer, she was beaten a half-length in the Yorkshire Oaks and then 6 1/2 lengths by Treve in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille, her first time against older females.

“She’s a little filly, but she’s so athletic,” Brown said. “She’s got a huge turn of foot. She came over pretty highly regarded, and from what I’ve seen so far, she looks like a real runner.”

Guapaza, by Seeking the Dia

Beyer: 90

◗ A multiple group stakes winner in Chile, she raced between horses and finished third, beaten a length by stablemate Olorda, in the Grade 3 The Very One at Gulfstream. Olorda came back to win the Bewitch on closing day at Keeneland.