Same cast for redrawn Fourstardave

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The gang’s all here. Again.

The same nine turf horses entered for the Grade 1 Fourstardave when it was scheduled to be run last Saturday were entered back Wednesday for the rescheduled, $500,000 race, to be run this Saturday at Saratoga. The race was postponed when the last six races of last Saturday’s card were canceled due to poor track conditions and safety concerns.

The only difference in the field is that Weekend Hideaway, entered for the main track only in the Fourstardave last week, was entered for the main track only in the $100,000 Troy Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs this Saturday.

Force the Pass, who shipped in from the Colts Neck training center in New Jersey, was shipped back there following the cancellation. Trainer Alan Goldberg said Force the Pass worked a half-mile in 48 seconds Wednesday over the turf at Colts Neck.

Force the Pass is seeking his first win since he upset the Belmont Derby in July 2015. In his last start, the Grade 3 Poker at Belmont on July 16, Force the Pass looked like he had dead aim on King Kreesa but couldn’t catch him and got beat a nose.

Goldberg said Wednesday that Force the Pass came out of the race sick.

“He had a pretty good infection,” Goldberg said.

While Force the Pass has lost his last five starts, he has not finished worse than third.

“Bottom line: He hasn’t shown it yet this year. Nothing’s really gone right,” Goldberg said. “I don’t know how much shipping back and forth is going to take out of him, but I thought I might as well bring him home. It looks to me like it’s a good, competitive race; almost all the horses could win with the right trip.”

Post positions did change significantly from last week. King Kreesa, who had post 7, now has the rail. He will be joined, in post-position order, by Grand Arch, Reporting Star, Force the Pass, Blacktype, Ring Weekend, A Lot, Tourist, and Takeover Target.