By US Racing Team
Earlier this month, Fort Bragg (North Carolina) became Fort Liberty in a move to rename military bases that bear the name of Confederate leaders. So far, Fort Bragg the racehorse is still Fort Bragg the racehorse and he’s ready to run in the $200,000 Dwyer Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park on Saturday.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Fort Bragg lost by a neck to General Jim (really!) in the Pat Day Stakes (G2) on the Kentucky Derby undercard on May 6.
Fort Bragg, a son of Tapit, spiked a fever before his next scheduled start, the Woody Stephens (G1) on the Belmont Stakes undercard on June 10, and was scratched. He’s been training well and will face five other 3-year-olds in the 105th running of the Dwyer at one mile.
Tom Ryan, managing partner of co-owner SF Racing, said the Dwyer was the first choice after missing the Woody Stephens.
“Fortunately, his temperature came back down to normal very quickly,” Ryan said. “Bob’s reaction to it was the right one. He felt something was brewing and we had to do the right thing by the horse.
“The decision was made immediately to reroute him to the Dwyer, which we feel should suit him very well. He’s got some miles under his belt now and his run at Churchill was really a fantastic effort. He didn’t get away from the gate the way we would have liked, and he still managed to finish up strongly.”
Fort Bragg, with Hall of Famer John Velazquez aboard, is the 8-5 favorite leaving from post 5.
Also entered are 2-1 second choice Saudi Crown for trainer Brad Cox, Harrodsburg (7-2), Joey Fishwater (6-1), Alternate Reality (8-1), and Prove Right (15-1).
Fort Bragg has a maiden victory at Santa Anita at third asking and is 7-1-2-2 overall. He worked 5 furlongs in 59.90 seconds at Belmont on Sunday (June 25).
The toughest competition could come from unbeaten Saudi Crown, who did not race as a 2-year-old; won in his debut going 6 furlongs at Keeneland on April 16 and then won at 6 ½ furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 21.
He breaks from post 2 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.
$250,000 John A. Ner
ud (G2), 4-year-olds and up, 7 furlongs
Candy Man Rocket won a Kentucky Derby prep in 2021 – the Sam Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs – but Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott saw sprinting in his future.
Now a 5-year-old, the Candy Ride horse has won four of his last five races – one at 7 furlongs, three at 6 furlongs, including the Runhappy (G3) at Belmont on May 13.
Candy Man Rocket will have regular rider Junior Alvarado up leaving from the inside post in a field of seven. He’s the 2-1 favorite.
“He’s run some good races and if he gets a good trip, he usually runs pretty well,” Mott said. “I think he’s fine on the lead or fine with a target. It just depends how the race sets up.”
Candy Man Rocket had four works since the Runhappy, most recently going 4 furlongs in 47.16 at Belmont on June 24.
“We’re anxious to see how he’ll do on Saturday,” Mott said.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sends out Weyburn (7-2) looking for a third straight win in this race – he won with Mind Control in 2021 and Life is Good in 2022.
Ontario-bred Weyburn had been trained by Jimmy Jerkens before being transferred to Pletcher’s stable when Jerkens moved on to train in Saudi Arabia for Prince Faisal bin Khalid Al Saud. This will be Weyburn’s first start for Pletcher.
Weyburn ran third in the Westchester (G3) at Belmont on May 5 after winning the Sir Shackleton Stakes at Gulfstream Park on April 1.
Jose Ortiz rides from post 3.
Also entered are Little Vic (3-1), Three Technique (5-1), Twisted Ride (6-1), Sheriff Bianco (10-1), and Synthesis (15-1).
Belmont on TV
America’s Day at the Races presents daily coverage of the spring meet on the networks of FOX Sports. Post time for the Dwyer is 3:41 p.m. ET; the John A. Nerud post time is 5:19 p.m.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
