Engage staying busy for Brown

ELMONT, N.Y. – Engage will look to bounce back from a loss as the favorite in last month’s Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes and will be preparing for next month’s Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes when he runs in Sunday’s $100,000 Gold Fever Stakes at Belmont Park.

Engage is 2 for 4, with his two losses coming to National Flag, first in a maiden race at Saratoga last summer and then in the Bay Shore at Aqueduct. In between, Engage won a maiden race at the Spa and the Grade 3 Futurity at Belmont last fall.

The Bay Shore represented Engage’s first start in nearly six months. He veered in at the break and bumped with National Flag. Engage got turned sideways and may have been farther back than anticipated. It likely wouldn’t have mattered, as National Flag finished like he was shot out of a cannon to win going away.

“It definitely cost him some valuable position,” trainer Chad Brown said. “That said, I thought the winner was very impressive.”

Brown said he considered training Engage up to the Woody Stephens on June 9 but felt that was too much time between races.

“I just felt he could benefit from racing more,” Brown said.

Engage also will benefit from having a target. He could have two in Forced, to his inside, and A Different Style, to his outside.

Forced has crossed the finish line first in his two starts but was disqualified and placed last in an April 21 allowance at Parx after ducking out four paths while leaving the starting gate, wiping out half the field. Trainer Miguel Vera said Forced got cut up when a horse in the gate next to him acted up and was scratched.

“My horse got cut on the front leg and had a couple of scratches on his back leg,” Vera said. “That’s the reason my horse broke that way.”

Edgar Prado, who entered Friday’s action with 6,997 career wins, has the mount on Forced.

A Different Style won the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes in the mud at Aqueduct on Feb. 10. Most recently, he finished fifth after setting the pace in the Bay Shore.

Flash Drive and I’m an Ocala Dude complete the field for the Gold Fever, race 3 on the 10-race card.

KEY CONTENDERS

Engage, by Into Mischief Last 3 Beyers: 78-86-81

◗ Cuts back in distance, drops in class, and should get the proper pace scenario to make him effective.

◗ Won the Futurity over this track and at this distance under Jose Ortiz, who is back aboard Sunday.

Forced, by Take Charge Indy Beyers: 89-68

◗ Speedy colt needs to break straight and avoid a pace duel with A Different Style.

“I think my horse is the speed of the race,” Vera said. “My horse has got natural speed, so we’re going to break and let him roll.”