Fort Washington getting better and better

Fort Washington was one of the few New York-based horses to win at Pimlico last weekend, taking the Grade 3 Dinner Party Stakes by a length.

It was the second straight stakes win for Fort Washington, who in March won the Grade 3 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream Park.

Trainer Shug McGaughey said he wasn’t sure where Fort Washington would make his next start as McGaughey has several horses in the male turf division in that middle-distance range. Fort Washington dead-heated for win in the Monmouth Stakes last June and could return there for this year’s renewal on June 14, McGaughey said. However, he is also considering that spot for Integration and/or Sherlock’s Jewel.

McGaughey said Fort Washington, a 6-year-old son of War Front, has become more professional in his races.

“A lot of his races he’d make mistakes, lay on another horse or something like that,” McGaughey said. “[Junior] Alvarado really understands him now. He laid right there in a good position instead of getting too far back. For a while he wasn’t breaking. He’s breaking better now and that’s helped him be where he needs to be.”

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