Field Pass has made one start this year, running 10th behind defending champion Colonel Liam in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park, a race where he was bumped at the start and failed to reach contention, though he wound up beaten less than four lengths.

“We just gave him some time after the Pegasus race. He just got outrun. He had some trouble early on that might have cost him, but I don’t think it was the difference between running 10th or winning,” trainer Mike Maker said. “Everything’s well. It should be a good comeback spot for him.”

A 5-year-old Maryland-bred son of Lemon Drop Kid, Field Pass won the fourth of his five career graded-stakes in Maryland, taking the one-mile Baltimore-Washington International Turf Cup (G3) last summer at Pimlico Race Course. Other graded wins have come in the 2020 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), Transylvania (G3) and Ontario Derby (G3) as well as the 1 1/16-mile Seabiscuit (G2) to end 2021. His last 12 races have come in graded events, since finishing seventh in the August 2020 Saratoga Derby Invitational, now a Grade 1.

“He’s been great. He’s a sound horse, and it’s been a lot of fun having him around,” Maker said. “I prefer him to go a mile and a sixteenth, but I don’t think the mile is going to be a big issue with the class drop.”

Victor Carrasco is named to ride Field Pass, an eight-time career winner with $938,143 in purses earned from 24 starts at 11 tracks in five states as well as Canada. Fourth in the 2019 Laurel Futurity in his only try over the local course, he drew Post 6 in a field of seven.

“He’s run well wherever he’s gone. It’s one less thing to worry about,” Maker said. “If there’s no speed he can take control of the race and if not he can sit off it. It just depends on the draw and the others in the race.”

Field Pass finished 2021 fourth in the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred/The Racing Biz Top Midlantic-bred Poll. For the second consecutive year, honors as Top Midlantic-bred went to Knicks Go.

Field Pass is even-money on the morning line. The second choice is the undefeated Chez Pierre (2-1). Trained by Arnaud Delacour for Lael Stables, Chez Pierre is 4-for-4 in his career, scoring three times in France before making his US bow a winning one at Tampa Bay Downs. Also in single digits are stakes winners Mandate and Oceans Map, both 8-1.