Force the Pass Heads Fort Marcy

There are a number of comebackers entered in the $150,000 Fort Marcy Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park for older horses May 7, which may give the advantage to Force the Pass, who already has a start under his belt in 2016.

The Fort Marcy drew a field of 10 turf runners going nine furlongs and one main track only entrant. Force the Pass took the 10-furlong Belmont Derby (gr. IT) handily last year, and has come back to third three straight times since in grade I, grade II, and grade III company. In his lone start this year he took the lead midway through the Arthur Appleton Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park but was caught late. With little speed drawn into the Fort Marcy Force the Pass should have the tactical edge.

Ironicus took the Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) at Saratoga last September in his most recent start and also scored in the Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT), both at 1 1/16 miles. He has not finished off the board in his last 10 races and has fired fresh off the bench in the past. Red Rifle got good last summer, taking the Bowling Green Handicap (gr. IIT) after scoring in the Dominion Day (Can-IIIT). He's been a steady performer at longer distances, but tired in his 2016 debut in allowance company.

Messi, winner of the Knickerbocker Stakes (gr. IIIT) last fall, ran dull at Churchill in the River City Handicap (gr. IIIT) last November and has not started since. He's had a series of six-furlong breezes coming into the Fort Marcy.

Legendary won the 2014 Knickerbocker but hasn't won in 10 races since, going down to Ironicus and Messi in the process. He hasn't shown much in his two starts this year.

Go Around took a stakes for Florida-breds last out and won an allowance optional claimer before that. He is eligible to move forward and was competitive in graded company last year. Perfect Title closed to finish third in the River City last fall and came back in April to win an allowance optional claimer at Laurel. He is a deep closer.

Smooth Daddy placed in multiple graded stakes in 2014 but has since been dropped into allowance optional claiming company with modest success. He needs a throwback performance here. Likewise Howe Great, who has gone a long time between drinks. He has raced twice without success since finishing second in last year's Fort Marcy.

Blacktype has been kept in allowance optional claiming company for a while now and will have to make a big move forward here. Good Luck Gus was entered for the main track only.