Saratoga: Fort Larned works toward Jockey Club Gold Cup

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Whitney winner Fort Larned worked four furlongs in 49.86 seconds Thursday morning over Saratoga’s main track as he prepares for a start in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Sept. 29.

Fort Larned went off in 26.18 seconds, but came home in a solid 23.78 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.68.

“That’s all I was looking for, just a nice easy work, nothing special,” trainer Ian Wilkes said. “It looks like no ill effects at all” from the Whitney. “The horse is moving forward.”

Fort Larned would likely have one more work here before shipping to Belmont, where Wilkes will have some stalls for the fall meet.

“He hasn’t had to have his track,” Wilkes said. “He’s won at Tampa, Gulfstream, Prairie Meadows, run good at Churchill, and run good here.”

The Lumber Guy sizzles in work

The Lumber Guy, away from the races since finishing sixth in the Peter Pan in May, worked four furlongs in 46.55 seconds Thursday morning over Saratoga’s main track, the fastest of 41 moves at the distance.

Under jockey Ramon Dominguez, The Lumber Guy went his first quarter in 22.53 and his second quarter in 24.02. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.55.

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“It’s the first time Ramon’s worked him, and I just told him to sit still on him and put him in his nice stride that he has and to chirp to him at the eighth pole,” trainer Mike Hushion said.

The Lumber Guy, who won the Grade 2 Jerome at Aqueduct in April, has now breezed four times since July 31 and will likely return sometime during the Belmont fall meet.