Wide Open Field of Eight Set for $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes

Force the Pass has been tabbed as the morning line favorite at odds of 5-2 for trainer Alan Goldberg. A sophomore son of Speightstown, he has won two of his three starts and will be going for his second straight stakes victory. Last time out, he delivered as the heavy favorite over seven rivals in the Cutler Bay Stakes and won by a neck. Regular rider Rajiv Maragh will be in the irons and they will break from post position two.

Commute getting a surface switch and class test

Second choice at 7-2 on the morning line is Commute for trainer Mark Casse. A bay son of Hold Me Back purchased for $50,000, he has one win from four starts and will be stepping up to stakes competition for the first time. All four starts have come on the dirt so he will also be switching surfaces after a runner-up effort in an allowance race at Santa Anita. Julian Leparoux will be aboard and they will break from post position five.

First Spark trying to improve first time on turf

Also in the field at morning line odds of 5-1 is First Spark for trainer Todd Pletcher. A bay son of Indian Charlie, he broke his maiden at first asking at Aqueduct in March and was fourth last time out in an allowance race at Keeneland. He will be stretching out to a mile and trying turf for the first time. Javier Castellano will be aboard for the first time and they will break from the outside post as he makes his stakes debut.