Tapit’s Fort Bragg Makes the Grade in Heart-Stopping Dwyer

[Wandering Eyes]

Fort Bragg (c, 3, Tapit–March X Press, by Shanghai Bobby), scratched from last month's GI Woody Stephens S. after spiking a fever, narrowly outslugged the previously unbeaten Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) to capture Saturday's GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont Park.

The 3-5 favorite traveled smartly in third as Saudi Crown showed the way through an opening quarter in :22.47. Up a spot into second through an eye-opening half mile in :44.63, Fort Bragg loomed boldly on the outside as the two hit the quarter pole. Saudi Crown and Fort Bragg locked horns down the stretch, and, after a long drive, Fort Bragg fought by to win by a hard-fought head in a race that didn't deserve a loser. Harrodsburg (Constitution) was third.

Fort Bragg, third for Bob Baffert in last December's GII Los Alamitos Futurity, made three previous outings for Tim Yakteen this term, headed by a too-good-to-lose second-place finish in the GII Pat Day Mile S. at Churchill Downs May 6.

Fort Bragg becomes the 160th stakes winner/101st graded winner worldwide for leading sire Tapit. Fort Bragg is the first foal out of the stakes-winning March X Press, who is also responsible for a Quality Road colt of 2022 and a Honor A. P. filly of 2023. March X Press brought $560,000 from Parks Investment Group at the 2021 KEENOV sale.

Saturday, Belmont Park

DWYER S.-GIII, $200,000, Belmont, 7-1, 3yo, 1m, 1:35.37, ft.
1–FORT BRAGG, 118, c, 3, by Tapit
1st Dam: March X Press (SW, $151,730),
           by Shanghai Bobby
2nd Dam: Indian Rush, by Indian Charlie
3rd Dam: Rhapsody Blues, by Homebuilder
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($700,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-SF Bloodstock LLC & Henry Field Bloodstock (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R. Velazquez. $110,000. Lifetime Record: 8-2-2-2, $321,300. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Saudi Crown, 118, c, 3, Always Dreaming–New Narration, by Tapit. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($45,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN; $240,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-FMQ Stables; B-CHC Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $40,000.
3–Harrodsburg, 118, g, 3, Constitution–Gracer, by Exchange Rate. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Twin Creeks Farm (KY); T-Rob Atras. $24,000.
Margins: NO, 11, 3 1/4. Odds: 0.70, 1.60, 10.40.
Also Ran: Joey Freshwater, Alternate Reality, Prove Right.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs.
VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

 

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