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Brown enters tough trio for G3 Fort Marcy

by Najja Thompson

After kicking off opening week with two victories and one second-place finish from nine starts, defending Belmont Park spring/summer meet leading trainer Chad Brown will look to sustain momentum entering a talented trio in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Fort Marcy for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf.

Headlining Brown's threesome is Convento Viejo's multiple graded stakes winning Chilean-bred Robert Bruce. Set to make his first start since finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf last November, the 5-year-old son of Irish-bred Fast Company began his career in his native Chile where he wheeled off six consecutive victories as a 3-year-old before being transferred to Brown.

Robert Bruce made his North American debut by winning last year's edition of the Fort Marcy, before going on to win the Grade 1 Arlington Million at Arlington Park and finish second in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont.

With Jose Lezcano aboard, Robert Bruce will depart from post 2.

Rounding out Brown's entrants are pair of runners each set to make their North American debut, with Olympico, for owners Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stable and Bethlehem Stables; and Arrocha for Nova Estrela LLC.

A 4-year-old French-bred gelding, Olympico has made each of his 19 prior starts in France, where he amassed three victories and three second-place finishes including a victory last November in the Prix Henri Chapelle at Marseille-Borely Racecourse.

Arrocha, a 5-year-old Brazilian-bred multiple Group 1 winning horse in South America, enters the Fort Marcy after capturing the Copa ABCPCC Mathias Machline in his most recent start on August 4 at Gavea Racecourse in Brazil.

Olympico will leave from post 3 with Kendrick Carmouche in the irons. Arrocha will leave from outside post 9 with Joe Bravo aboard.

Looking to present a formidable challenge to Brown's trio is Dr. Edgar, for trainer Barclay Tagg and owners Peter and Eloise Canzone.

The 6-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky holds an impressive record of four victories from seven starts with a pair of second-place finishes on the Belmont turf and enters the Fort Marcy on a two-race win streak including a last-out victory in the Grade 3 Appleton at a mile on March 29 at Gulfstream.

"He's a nice horse; we're trying to see if we can stretch him out," Tagg said. "He goes a mile-and-a-sixteenth the same as he goes a mile. If he can get an easy lead and slow it down, maybe he can go further than that."

With Dylan Davis named to ride, the pair will leave from post 7.

Hall of Fame conditioner Shug McGaughey entered Doctor Mounty for owner Larry Pratt.

Sired by multiple graded stakes winner Street Sense, 6-year-old Doctor Mounty captured the Grade 3 Baltimore Washington International Turf at Laurel last September for one of his two victories in 2018. He made his 2019 debut a winning one, capturing the Grade 3 Tropical Turf on January 12 at Gulfstream. He will look to rebound off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Makers Mark on April 12 at Keeneland.

Trainer Todd Pletcher entered a pair of runners with Channel Cat for Calumet Farm and graded stakes-winner Maraud for Treadway Racing.

Channel Cat, a 4-year-old English Channel colt, will make his 2019 debut in the Fort Marcy after ending his 2018 campaign with back-to-back wins in the Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs and Bald Eagle at Laurel Park last September.

Maraud, a 4-year-old son of Blame, won the Grade 3 Palm Beach at Gulfstream and Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill as a 3-year-old. He returned to finish third in the Danger's Hour on April 7.

"He [Maraud] came out of that race in good shape," said Byron Hughes assistant to Pletcher. "He's breezed back well and we're looking forward to him having a big effort. Channel Cat shipped up here from Palm Beach Downs in good form and he's shown good energy as well heading into this race."

Maraud will leave from post 8 with Eric Cancel in the irons. Channel Cat will leave from post 5 with Adam Beschizza aboard.

Also entered is Cullum Road for Three Diamonds Farm and trainer Mike Maker and main track only entrant Control Group for owners Michael Dubb and David Simon and trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

The Fort Marcy is slated as Race 10 on Saturday's 12-race card. First post time is 12 p.m.