Fort Bragg's trip to New York in early June did not work out as planned.
Trainer Bob Baffert originally hoped to run the Pat Day Mile (G2) runner-up in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) on the Belmont Stakes (G1) undercard, but when the 3-year-old son of Tapit developed a fever, that start was scrapped.
"When he shipped to New York, he didn't finish his grain and had a slight temperature and we jumped on it right away," Baffert said.
Baffert won the Woody Stephens with his other entrant, Arabian Lion , and the Hall of Famer will try to make Fort Bragg's trip to the Big Apple worthwhile July 1 when the grade 2-placed runner will take on five opponents in the $200,000 Dwyer Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park.
"He's worked well twice since then and is doing well," Baffert said. "We'll try this one and take it one step at a time."
Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan, Fort Bragg returned to Baffert's barn after the May 6 Pat Day Mile following three starts for Tim Yakteen.
Third in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in his 2-year-old finale for Baffert, the son of the Shanghai Bobby mare March X Press comes off a strong performance in the Pat Day Mile. Close to the lead throughout, he engaged in a solid stretch-long duel with the victorious General Jim before losing by a neck.
"He got away a little slow," Baffert said, "but he ran really well and could have won. We'll put a little blinker back on because I think he needs to focus a little more."
A winner of only one of his seven career tries, Fort Bragg last wore blinkers in his third start Nov. 4 when he posted his maiden win.
Bred by SF Bloodstock and Henry Field Bloodstock, he was bought for $700,000 from the Bedouin Bloodstock consignment at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.
"It's a homebred horse and we're excited about him," said Tom Ryan of SF Racing and SF Bloodstock. "It would be great to have a homebred punch into graded stakes company for our breeding program and to also reward our racing partners for their faith in him."
Baffert said the July 22 Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park could be a possibility for Fort Bragg if he turns in a strong effort Saturday.
The one-turn mile Dwyer also features two intriguing starters making their stakes debuts.
FMQ Stables' Saudi Crown will bring a 2-for-2 record into the Dwyer after maiden and allowance wins for trainer Brad Cox.
Bred by CHC, the son of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming won a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race on the front end by 1 3/4 lengths May 21 at Churchill Downs. He romped by 4 3/4 lengths in his April 16 debut at Keeneland.
"He's a very nice colt," Cox said. "Obviously not much experience, but we do believe he can compete at the graded-stakes level."
Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Harrodsburg is practically perfect for trainer Rob Atras. A speedy debut winner, the Constitution gelding set the early pace but lost by a nose in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance May 6 at Belmont. Like Fort Bragg, he was entered in the Woody Stephens but was scratched, in his case after getting loose in the paddock.
Belmont Park, Saturday, July 1, 2023, Race 6Entries: Dwyer S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Prove Right (KY) Joey R. Martinez 118 James K. Chapman 15/1 2 2Saudi Crown (KY) Javier Castellano 118 Brad H. Cox 2/1 3 3Harrodsburg (KY) Manuel Franco 118 Rob Atras 7/2 4 4Alternate Reality (KY) Jacqueline A. Davis 118 Chris J. Englehart 8/1 5 5Fort Bragg (KY) John R. Velazquez 118 Bob Baffert 8/5 6 6Joey Freshwater (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Linda Rice 6/1
