BALTIMORE - Slow fractions in the Grade 3 Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday gave jockey Junior Alvarado a rare opportunity. With the pacesetters flagging in front of him, the recent Kentucky Derby-winning rider urged Fort Washington, a deep closer for most of his career, to the lead on the far turn and surged away in the stretch to win by a length. “I didn’t think we were going that slow,” Alvarado said. “I was happy with my horse. He was in the bridle. He has never been in the bridle like that before. What was going through my head on the first turn was, 'well, he’s probably liking it soft.' That’s what I was hoping. He definitely answered our question. When he turned for home, he has a beautiful, nice kick.” Trained by Shug McGaughey, Fort Washington entered the Dinner Party at 1 1/8 miles off a short layoff, having last won the Grade 3 Canadian Turf going slightly shorter at Gulfstream Park in early March. He closed from seventh to win that day, a typical trip for the longtime stakes runner, but his trip at Pimlico on Saturday was decidedly different. After an even beginning, no one in the field of 10 seemed intent on taking the early lead, creating a strange situation in which several runners were propelled forward against their preferred style. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Neat, an early leader in just one of 13 career starts for Rob Atras, and Abrumar, typically a stalking type for Saffie Joseph, scrapped near the front end into the first turn through an opening quarter-mile in 26.07 seconds. The fractions displayed during the race, which began with an opening quarter-mile in 27.10 seconds, were later adjusted. After the leaders completed a similarly uneventful and uncertain half-mile in 50.82 seconds, several runners began to crash the front end as the entire field seemed to momentarily fold in on itself. Trikari, a 4-year-old colt trained by Graham Motion, made the first challenge and nearly overtook Abrumar to his inside on the far turn. Fort Washington and Alvarado, who settled in seventh early, gunned for the front outside of Trikari, and when Trikari and Abrumar both began to fade, he inherited the lead and kicked two lengths clear in the stretch. Alvarado hardly had to urge Fort Washington by the time they were in front, and a stampede of runners behind him could do very little when the horse finally made his move with plenty left. He didn’t necessarily hold them at bay, but instead simply made his closing kick with a massive head start. He finished in 1:54.20 (98 Beyer Speed Figure) and paid $12.00 to win. “When he was passing horses, I still had him under a good hold,” Alvarado said. “I knew nobody from behind was going to pass him. I thought I was loaded. From the half-mile pole, I knew what I had underneath me.” Cash Equity, a 7-year-old gelding trained by Saffie Joseph, closed from last to finish second, while 48-1 shot Desvio came from eighth to finish third for trainer Madison Meyers. McGaughey was not present in the winner’s circle after the race, but Joseph Anzalone, president and CEO of Magic Cap Stables, could not have been happier with his horse. “He was really loaded,” Anzalone said. “He’s never that close to the front, especially around the turn. Usually see him in the back of the pack, coming at the end and winning by a nose or losing by a nose. Today he showed everything. Very impressed.” Anzalone and assistant trainer Anthony Hamilton did not mention a next start for Fort Washington. Alvarado said that he can probably handle even longer distances going forward, which could considerably expand his summer campaign. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.