Fort Larned leads all the way in Cornhusker

Janis R. Whitham's homebred Fort Larned flashed to the front when the gates

opened in Saturday night's Grade 3, $300,000

Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap

and was never seriously threatened, recording an easy three-length victory over

the heavily-favored Successful Dan.

With Brian Hernandez delivering a perfect ride, the Ian Wilkes-trained colt

sailed to a two-length advantage after an opening quarter-mile in :24 2/5 and

extended his lead to three lengths through a half-mile in :48 2/5. Successful

Dan, the 1-2 favorite off a track record-setting victory in the Grade 2

Alysheba, in which Fort Larned finished one-length back in second, was reserved

in fourth among six runners during the early stages.

Fort Larned remained clear as Shadowbdancing and Successful Dan both moved

closer on the far turn, with six furlongs accomplished in 1:12 1/5, but

Hernandez was sitting chilly and did not ask his mount for run until reaching

the stretch. Fort Larned responded, passing the mile mark in 1:35 2/5 on a

two-length cushion, and remained in complete control through the final furlong.

The four-year-old completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:47 2/5 on the fast track.

Off as the 7-2 third choice, Fort Larned paid $9.40, $3.40 and $2.40.

Successful Dan, who had finished first in five straight starts dating back to

October 2010 (including a controversial disqualification in the 2010 Grade 1

Clark), easily proved second best while never challenging the winner. It was 2

3/4

lengths back to third-placer Awesome Gem, with Shadowbdancing, Taptowne and

Headache next under the wire.

A Kentucky-bred son of E Dubai, Fort Larned made his first three career

starts on dirt, posting a maiden special weight victory and two unplaced

finishes, and then made his next six starts on turf/Polytrack with marginal

results, recording only an entry-level allowance tally and four unplaced

results. He switched back to dirt in his 2011 finale, an off-the-turf allowance

event, and rolled to a 6 3/4-length decision.

The bay colt has been committed to dirt tracks this season. He captured the

March 3 Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in his second start of the year and

followed with an impressive 2 1/2-length score in the Grade 3 Skip Away at

Gulfstream Park that netted him a whopping 110 BRIS Speed rating. He continued

to move forward in the May 14 Alysheba, finishing six lengths clear of

third-placer Mucho Macho Man in a top-class performance that received a 113

Speed figure, but Fort Larned took a step back next out in the Grade 1 Stephen

Foster Handicap on June 16, retreating to last after a less-than-favorable

start.

He rebounded in style in the Cornhusker, increasing his career earnings to

$431,236 with the $180,000 winner's share, and Fort Larned's career line now

reads 16-6-2-0.

Fort Larned is out of the winning Broad Brush mare Arlucea, who is also the

dam of Grade 1-placed Izarrra and stakes-placed Moonport. She is out of Bayakoa,

the nation's top older mare in 1989-90. Bayakoa was campaigned by Janis Whitham

and her late husband, Frank, and she is the granddam of multiple Grade 1 queen

Affluent.

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