Mage Can Get the Right Trip at the 2023 Kentucky Derby
Read this articleForce the Pass Takes Aim at $400,000 Commonwealth Derby
On Saturday at Laurel Park, the featured race is the $400,000 Commonwealth Derby. Restricted to three-year-olds, the Grade 2 event will be contested at a mile and an eighth on the turf and has drawn a field of eight colts and geldings.
Force the Pass tops the field as the favorite at morning line odds of 6-5 for trainer Alan Goldberg. A chestnut son of Speightstown bred and owned by Colts Neck Stables, he has been on the board in all seven starts and is a four-time winner. He stepped up to win the Belmont Derby (G1) two starts back before finishing third last time out in the Secretariat Stakes (G1). Trevor McCarthy will be in the irons and they will break from post position five.
Go Around looking for first stakes victory
Second choice at morning line odds of 5-2 is Go Around for trainer Bill Mott. A dark bay son of Medaglia d’Oro, he is a homebred for owner Peter Vegso and will be trying to earn his first stakes victory from five starts. He has two victories to his credit and was last seen finishing third in the Saranac Stakes (G3) in his first start against stakes company. Julian Pimental will be in the irons and they will break from the rail.
Class test for allowance winner Fundamental
Also in the field at morning line odds of 6-1 is Fundamental for trainer Chad Brown. A gray son of Arch, he was purchased for $225,000 as a yearling and has won half of his four starts. He will be stepping up to stakes competition for the first time after winning an allowance race at Saratoga by two lengths. Jose Ortiz will be aboard and they are scheduled to break from the outside post as he faces his first class test.
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