Janis R. Whitham’s homebred Fort Larned flashed to the front when the gates
opened in Saturday night’s Grade 3, $300,000
Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap
and was never seriously threatened, recording an easy three-length victory over
the heavily-favored Successful Dan.
With Brian Hernandez delivering a perfect ride, the Ian Wilkes-trained colt
sailed to a two-length advantage after an opening quarter-mile in :24 2/5 and
extended his lead to three lengths through a half-mile in :48 2/5. Successful
Dan, the 1-2 favorite off a track record-setting victory in the Grade 2
Alysheba, in which Fort Larned finished one-length back in second, was reserved
in fourth among six runners during the early stages.
Fort Larned remained clear as Shadowbdancing and Successful Dan both moved
closer on the far turn, with six furlongs accomplished in 1:12 1/5, but
Hernandez was sitting chilly and did not ask his mount for run until reaching
the stretch. Fort Larned responded, passing the mile mark in 1:35 2/5 on a
two-length cushion, and remained in complete control through the final furlong.
The four-year-old completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:47 2/5 on the fast track.
Off as the 7-2 third choice, Fort Larned paid $9.40, $3.40 and $2.40.
Successful Dan, who had finished first in five straight starts dating back to
October 2010 (including a controversial disqualification in the 2010 Grade 1
Clark), easily proved second best while never challenging the winner. It was 2
3/4
lengths back to third-placer Awesome Gem, with Shadowbdancing, Taptowne and
Headache next under the wire.
A Kentucky-bred son of E Dubai, Fort Larned made his first three career
starts on dirt, posting a maiden special weight victory and two unplaced
finishes, and then made his next six starts on turf/Polytrack with marginal
results, recording only an entry-level allowance tally and four unplaced
results. He switched back to dirt in his 2011 finale, an off-the-turf allowance
event, and rolled to a 6 3/4-length decision.
The bay colt has been committed to dirt tracks this season. He captured the
March 3 Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in his second start of the year and
followed with an impressive 2 1/2-length score in the Grade 3 Skip Away at
Gulfstream Park that netted him a whopping 110 BRIS Speed rating. He continued
to move forward in the May 14 Alysheba, finishing six lengths clear of
third-placer Mucho Macho Man in a top-class performance that received a 113
Speed figure, but Fort Larned took a step back next out in the Grade 1 Stephen
Foster Handicap on June 16, retreating to last after a less-than-favorable
start.
He rebounded in style in the Cornhusker, increasing his career earnings to
$431,236 with the $180,000 winner’s share, and Fort Larned’s career line now
reads 16-6-2-0.
Fort Larned is out of the winning Broad Brush mare Arlucea, who is also the
dam of Grade 1-placed Izarrra and stakes-placed Moonport. She is out of Bayakoa,
the nation’s top older mare in 1989-90. Bayakoa was campaigned by Janis Whitham
and her late husband, Frank, and she is the granddam of multiple Grade 1 queen
Affluent.
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