Despite layoff, King Fury fit for Fort Larned

King Fury won his career debut, a maiden route race at Churchill Downs. Back from a 4 1/2-month layoff in April 2021, he won the Lexington Stakes. Away from the races 10 weeks after the Lexington, King Fury was a strong second in the Ohio Derby. Taking all that into account, it might be more positive than negative that King Fury makes his first start since April 2 when he faces six foes in the $200,000 Fort Larned Stakes on Saturday at Churchill.

Trainer Kenny McPeek has prepared King Fury for this Kentucky comeback in New York, working him six times at Saratoga since July 1.

“I thought about running him in New York, but this is a really good spot,” McPeek said. “He’s always run well at Churchill.”

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Not always, but most of the time, with three wins, including a victory in the 2020 Street Sense, and off-the-board finishes in the 2020 Kentucky Jockey Club and in the Clark Stakes last fall.

King Fury drew post 2 and will have Julien Leparoux aboard for the first time. The Fort Larned will be contested at 1 3/16 miles, and King Fury had a very positive experience going that trip at Churchill in the $275,000 Bourbon Trail last September, posting a 13-length victory.

King Fury has raced only once since failing to make an impact in the Clark last November, and that start was virtually a non-effort. Failing to handle the Tapeta surface at Turfway Park, King Fury struggled home eighth and came out of the start sore.

“He didn’t like the Tapeta at all, got all jammed up in his shoulder during the race and needed some time,” McPeek said.

Even with a repeat of his Bourbon Trail romp, King Fury has no significant advantage on a few others in the Fort Larned. Artemus Eagle, Treasure Trove, and Keystone Field all merit deep longshot status, but Mr. Wireless, Twilight Blue, and Intrepid Heart can’t be discounted.

Mr. Wireless’s connections passed up the West Virginia Governor’s Cup on Aug. 6 to stay home for the Fort Larned, and 4-year-old Mr. Wireless probably has the most upside in this group. Mr. Wireless last summer won the Indiana Derby and the West Virginia Derby, the latter over 1 1/8 miles, before going off form finishing fifth in the Oklahoma Derby in September.

Mr. Wireless was rusty in his June 6 comeback start over a one-turn mile at Churchill but came right back to capture the Schaefer Memorial on July 9 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He’s set to improve again third start back from the extended break, and trainer Bret Calhoun expressed confidence Mr. Wireless can stay 9 1/2 furlongs.

Joe Sharp trains Twilight Blue, a rising 4-year-old, and the more exposed 6-year-old, Intrepid Heart. Intrepid Heart, Sharp said, strikes him as a strong candidate to see out the Fort Larned trip, while Twilight Blue, who has more latitude to improve than Intrepid Heart, hasn’t raced beyond 1 1/16 miles.

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Twilight Blue, by Air Force Blue, produced peak 97 Beyer Speed Figures his last two starts, the most recent a nose defeat to Fulsome, who came back to win the West Virginia Governor’s Cup. Twilight Blue last worked Aug. 2, a gap in his breeze pattern, but Sharp said that breeze had to be pushed back a couple days because of bad weather. Rather than squeeze in another timed workout, Sharp has galloped Twilight Blue into the Fort Larned. Front-running Twilight Blue could control a moderate pace and already has improved several lengths this year.

“The pace scenario might be in his favor, and he really likes Churchill. Hopefully, that’s enough to help him stretch out,” Sharp said.

Lady Tak

Bell’s the One and Sconsin meet for the seventh time in the $200,000 Lady Tak on Saturday at Churchill.

Five-year-old Sconsin evened their personal matchup at 3-3 when she finished second, and Bell’s the One fourth in the Chicago Stakes on June 23 at Churchill. That was Bell’s the One’s third defeat during a winless three-start 2022 campaign, but don’t tell trainer Neil Pessin that his mare has lost a step at age 6.

“To be honest, she’s doing as well now as she ever has – maybe even better,” Pessin said.

The mare’s work pattern suggests it. Since the Chicago, Bell’s the One has gone a half-mile in a bullet 47 seconds, a half-mile in a bullet 46.80, five furlongs in a bullet 58.80, and on Aug. 5 a half-mile in 46.80, second fastest of 51 works at the distance that day.

“That last work, she was so under wraps. She did it very easy,” Pessin said.

Pessin has ready excuses for the three losses. In the Madison at Keeneland, Bell’s the One was moved a touch too soon and lost her momentum in the final yards. Pessin said he ran his horse back too quickly in the Derby City Distaff, and in the Chicago, Bell’s the One, who had to be steadied approaching the quarter pole, rallied along the rail, which she doesn’t like.

“I expect her to rebound,” Pessin said.

Bell’s the One drew post 1, and jockey Corey Lanerie figures to drop to the tail of a short field and make his move on the outside.

The Lady Tak drew just five entrants. The connections of Lovemesomeme could enter the filly in Sunday’s Groupie Doll at Ellis Park, but she is likely to start in the Lady Tak, trainer Tom Drury said Thursday. Lovemesomeme figures to stalk the pace of probable front-runners Joyful Cadence and Music City Star, with Sconsin tracking from the inside with a strong chance of getting first run on Bell’s the One. Sconsin has an excellent 5-3-0 record from nine Churchill starts and now has bested Bell’s the One the last two times the pair has met. Trainer Greg Foley, in contrast to Pessin, has given his mare only two works since the Winning Colors. Likely that is plenty – and it’s likely the Lady Tak comes down to two familiar rivals.

–additional reporting by Marty McGee