Richard Santulli's Force the Pass (Speightstown) has ascended to the top of the sophomore turf division and looks to cement his position there in a GI Secretariat S. field short on numbers, but high on quality.
The homebred son of dual Grade III turf winner Social Queen (Dynaformer) has yet to finish out of the top two in his six career starts, winning the non black-type Cutler Bay S. at Gulfstream Apr. 1 before finishing a troubled second in the James W. Murphy S. on the Preakness undercard at Old Hilltop May 16. Allowed to go off at 9-1 in the GIII Penn Mile on two weeks' rest, the chestnut came from a near-impossible position to get up by a head and proved that effort was no fluke when storming away from the field in the GI Belmont Derby going this distance July 4, albeit with an ideal trip.
War Dispatch (War Front), closely related to G1SW Helene Super Star (ex Lines of Battle), makes his U.S. debut here and appears to have the credentials to be in the finish. Winner of five of his first six career trips to the post over a variety of French all-weather surfaces. He transitioned smoothly to the grass with a 1 3/4-length score in the G3 Prix de Guiche at Chantilly in May, then endured a checkered passage when third, one spot behind Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club May 31. The gray attempted to make the running when last seen in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam July 19 before yielding grudgingly to be second and appears capable to adapt to a cloudy race shape.
Since his effort in the French Classic, Highland Reel was a disappointing fifth at 11-4 behind Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) in the G1 Irish Derby June 27, but bounced back to annex Goodwood's 12-furlong G3 Gordon S. as the 7-4 chalk July 29. Seamie Heffernan is in for the ride.
Australian jockey Brenton Avdulla has made the trip from Down Under to pilot Australian Bloodstock's undefeated Goldstream (Ity) (Martino Alonso {Ire}). The bay colt has gone heavily favored in winning each of his five career starts to this point and is perfect in three tries this term, including a visually impressive three-length success in the G2 Derby Italiano at the Capannelle in Rome May 17. Andreas Wohler, who won the 2001 Million with Silvano (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}), takes over training duties from Stefano Botti. Goldstream is campaigned by the same connections as last year's G1 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) and could have the G1 Cox Plate as a later-season target. That feature was won last year by Secretariat hero Adelaide (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
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