Breeders' Cup Classic: Fort Larned, most of his rivals, intend to race again in 2013

Barbara D. Livingston

Fort Larned, getting a friendly pat from jockey Brian Hernandez, received a 117 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

ARCADIA, Calif. – All the principal runners from Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, including the victorious Fort Larned, emerged from the race in good order, and most will remain in training for next year, their respective trainers said Sunday morning.

Fort Larned left Sunday morning for a flight to Kentucky, where he will be in light training at Churchill Downs before heading to Florida during the winter to begin his 2013 campaign, trainer Ian Wilkes said.

After owner Jan Whitham on Saturday said Fort Larned would remain in training at age 5, Wilkes said he’d “like to try this again.”

Fort Larned got a 117 Beyer Speed Figure.

Mucho Macho Man, who just missed when finishing second, “came out of his race great,” according to his trainer, Kathy Ritvo.

“He’ll stay here until Tuesday,” Ritvo said. “I’ll just let him rest a little before he goes to Gulfstream Park,” where Ritvo is based in the winter.

Ron the Greek and Flat Out, who finished third and fourth, respectively, for trainer Bill Mott, were scheduled to leave on Monday morning for Payson Park in Florida, where Mott spends the winter, according to his assistant, Rudolphe Brisset.

“They ran hard,” Brisset said. “They ate everything. Their legs look good. But they’re tired.”

Mott’s other runner, To Honor and Serve, who finished 10th in his final career start, left Sunday morning for Gainesway Farm, where he will enter stud.

Richard’s Kid, who finished fifth, “came out of it great,” according to his trainer, Doug O’Neill.

O’Neill said Richard’s Kid might race again this year, perhaps in Hong Kong, and that the Dubai World Cup was a possible early goal in 2013.

“This was the main goal this year,” O’Neill said of the Classic. “He came out of it in great shape. He ran a very credible race.”

Game On Dude, seventh as the 6-5 favorite, also emerged in good shape, according to his trainer, Bob Baffert.

Baffert was winless in nine BC races, and only one of his runners finished in the money.

“It started out bad when Super Ninety Nine was scratched on Friday after he got cast in his stall,” Baffert said Sunday morning. “We never got a chance to get out of our seats and cheer yesterday. Nothing went our way.”

Baffert said if Game On Dude runs again this year, it would be in the Grade 3, $250,000 Native Diver Stakes at Hollywood Park on Dec. 1, but he stopped far short of committing to that race.

Baffert had a remedy for the poor Breeders’ Cup showing.

“I think we’re going to go to Disneyland and shake this [stuff] off,” he said.

Pool Play, who was eighth, was accompanying Fort Larned on the flight back to Kentucky on Sunday.

“Actually he came out of the race great, which is good,” said his trainer, Mark Casse. “I’d have loved for him to run better, but he was good and healthy this morning.”

Casse said even though Pool Play likes Churchill Downs, coming back in the Clark Handicap later this month “might be a little too darn close.”

“It’s not impossible,” he said. “But shipping out here and back, that might be a little much.”

Brilliant Speed, who finished 11th in the 12-horse field in his career finale, is off to stud at Three Chimneys Farm.