Half Brother to California Chrome Breaks Maiden

A race at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 2 gave the Coolmore connections of Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith reason to celebrate their $1.1 million purchase, Fort McHenry, who scored his first win in the one-mile test.

The gray Tapit  colt, who is a half brother to California Chrome  and trained by Todd Pletcher, did not run to his price tag or pedigree in his Aug. 17 debut when he finished fifth in a seven-furlong maiden race at Saratoga Race Course. He then returned Oct. 4 to finish runner up in a one-mile maiden test at Gulfstream Park West.

Back at the Southern Florida track Saturday, Fort McHenry broke fifth in the field of 10 juveniles after stumbling, but jockey Edgard Zayas guided him to the rail in the first turn and cut the corner to bring the colt into third. Fighting his rider coming off the turn, Fort McHenry wanted to be in front and Zayas submitted, allowing the colt to pull him ahead of leader Dream d'Oro as a quarter-mile went in :22.42.

Fort McHenry led Dream d'Oro by a length as a half-mile went in :48.34, and he opened up by two lengths as six furlongs went in 1:12.60. Soros took up the chase seven lengths in front of the third-placed runner. Finishing off the one-mile test in a final time of 1:39.35 on a fast track, Fort McHenry held a 5 1/2-length lead, while Soros finished ahead of Ayocapote by the same margin for second.

Bred by SF Bloodstock out of Love the Chase, the dam of 2014 and 2016 Horse of the Year California Chrome, Fort McHenry is his dam's fourth winner from five foals to race. She has a yearling colt by Pioneerof the Nile, a 2019 Uncle Mo filly, and is back in foal to Accelerate .

M. V. Magnier purchased Fort McHenry from Bedouin Bloodstock during the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.