03/04/2013 3:03PM

Fort Larned 'ready to run' in Gulfstream Park Handicap

By Mike Welsch
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Barbara D. Livingston
Fort Larned has only four confirmed opponents for the Gulfstream Park Handicap.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Fort Larned completed preparations for his much-anticipated 2013 debut in the Gulfstream Park Handicap by breezing five furlongs in 1:01.30 on a very chilly Monday morning at Palm Meadows. Fort Larned completed his final quarter in 24 seconds before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.20, according to clocker Bryan Walls.

Fort Larned will carry high weight of 124 pounds in the one-mile Gulfstream Park Handicap.

“I’m happy the way he’s come along, he’s been training well,” trainer Ian Wilkes said. “He’s ready to run. It’s a lot of weight, but I sort of expected we’d get 123 or 124 pounds. It’s fine.”

Fort Larned carried 126 pounds to his half-length victory over Mucho Macho Man in the BC Classic.

Only four other horses – Fort Loudon (118), Swagger Jack (117), Discreet Dancer (115), and Ducduc (115) – have been confirmed to face Fort Larned on Saturday.

 

Geral John Pinault 6 months ago
Fort Loudon and Discreet Dancer are sprinters. If they go hard for the first mile Fort Larned will clean up!!!
Bruce Baudoux 6 months ago
There only going one mile! Read much?
Bob 6 months ago
Mark I watch racing. I saw Mucho Macho lose last out. Animal Kingdom lose last out. Went the day well, etc..... The list goes on and on and on. Fort Larned isn't Cigar. Spectacular bid, by any imagination ... Isn't his fault racing is weak but I have friends who talk like you and are broke. None of us have tomorrow's newspaper. Once again these are animals.
Bruce Baudoux 6 months ago
It would have been a real treat to see Wise Dan's name dropped in the box for this race. I know there are those that think he may be strictly turf but Dan proved he can run over dirt as well last year at Churchill just barely missing. You can bet when Charlie Lopresti has him ready he won't duck Fort Larned if the money is right. Call me crazy......
therealdubwhite 6 months ago
As a fan of Top Quality horses running against other top quality horses, Wise Dan's name isnt in the top 10 on my list, and I dont fault WD, I fault his coward connections who recognized that he couldnt route very well on dirt, so it was off to allowance quality 8 furlong races thru the duration of 2012. Wise Dan finished the last 1/8 of a mile in the Stephen foster in a little over 14 seconds. Closing like that and weaving thru the lane gave the connections an understanding that he wasnt good enough to win routing on dirt. Therefore it was off to the lower tier of turf racing, no Man O War, Sword Dancer, Arlington Millions or Joe H Turf, but he ran in the Fourstardave and the Woodbine Mile. While real turf horses were running in 10-12 furlong turf races and the top handicap horses were running in 9-10f races on dirt. Wise Dan was beating up Slip and Drive, BigBlueKitten and Guy's Reward. In 2013 its likely to be the same, they will attempt to get him to route 1 times and if he loses its back to 1 mile races. I'll say this, Wise Dan doesnt need to be put on the same track as Fort larned and Game on Dude, he's not in that class. stay with 1 mile races for him, he can actually win those on turf.
Bruce Baudoux 6 months ago
I guess all the Eclipse voters were wrong making him Horse of the Year then, amazing you're not part of the comittee. You bettert check your list again, seems you've left off the experts number one horse.
Big Jeff 6 months ago
Just an absolutely ridiculous post. Spend less time hating you will feel better.
Mike Lee 6 months ago
Think with all of the great races Fort Larned ran last year,people forget about his win in the mile and three sixteenth SKIP AWAY where he set the track record at Gulfstream,earning a 108 beyer...think his love of this track and average competition will more than compensate for his four month layoff...easy victory! At some point this year,I think alot of fans would love to see a match race between the dude and fort larned,would be great for the sport! ML
Tiny Montgomery 6 months ago
A match race between those two would just be absolutely AWESOME, what a great idea.
chad mc rory 6 months ago
Did Zito get busted?
Nicholas Heaven 6 months ago
discreet dancer gonna crush this field. speed kills
Mark Scheider 6 months ago
Please start watching horse racing before you post here.
Joe Rockhold 6 months ago
I don't know about crush but I think he has a legit shot. He is proven at the track/distance and getting 9 pounds from Fort Larned.
Tom Jicha 6 months ago
Fort Larned wins the most important race in the country, carrying 126 pounds a mile and a quarter. Coming back he gets 124 going a mile. Handicaps have become a farcical misnomer and should be scrapped, especially in graded races.
Mark Scheider 6 months ago
Tom, he is going to make Game on Dude's Big Cap look like a close race against this bunch.
Mark Scheider 6 months ago
Saturday, he should be 1-9 against this group.
Mark Scheider 6 months ago
I still want to thank Fort Larned for the more than paid for trip to Santa Anita this past fall from New Jersey.
Mark 6 months ago
Cheers to that! And to healthy year for him .