Robert Bruce captures Fort Marcy in U.S. debut

ELMONT, N.Y. – Robert Bruce was a star in his native Chile last year, winning all six of his races, including the nation’s premier turf race, the El Ensayo Mega. Judging by his winning United States debut at Belmont Park on Saturday, his future remains exceedingly bright.

Robert Bruce won his seventh straight race in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy on Saturday for his new trainer Chad Brown. The race was his first since last October.

Blacktype went to the lead in the 1 1/8-mile Fort Marcy, which was run over firm turf. Spring Quality settled into a nice stalking position and the pair clicked off comfortable splits of 24.72 seconds for a quarter-mile and 50.26 for the half. Robert Bruce bided his time early while saving ground within striking position.

Spring Quality moved up to challenge Blacktype nearing the stretch. When Robert Bruce was given his cue by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, he knifed between the two leaders and took the lead. He held Spring Quality safe through the final sixteenth to score by three-quarters of a length.

“We sat a great position inside, saved all the ground, and top of the lane a spot opened, and he just accelerated right through,” Gaffalione said.

Robert Bruce was bet down to 8-5 favoritism in the nine-runner field. He paid $5.30 and was time in 1:47.56. He and Spring Quality came home in under 11 seconds following a mile in 1:36.71.

Lucullan rallied to finish third, three-quarters of a length behind Spring Quality. Ticonderoga and Silverwave, both trained by Brown, finished fourth and fifth.