Fort Larned has workout for Foster Handicap

May 24, 2013 - 8:33 PM Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - Breeders' Cup Classic winner Fort Larned put in a workout Friday morning at Churchill Downs as he prepares for the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap on June 15.

Trained by Ian Wilkes, the 5-year-old worked five furlongs in 59 4/5 seconds with Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel in the saddle. Fort Larned galloped out six furlongs in 1:11 4/5, seven in 1:24 2/5 and a mile in 1:38 3/5.

"The horse is doing great," Wilkes said. "He worked very well this morning. Calvin did me a favor and worked him this morning, but Brian (jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.) won't be taking off. (Hernandez) will have the mount (in the Stephen Foster)."

Owned by Janis Whitham, Fort Larned has not been able to carry over his success of 2012 to 2013 in the early going.

He stumbled at the break in the Gulfstream Park Handicap and unseated Hernandez. In the Oaklawn Handicap, he could do no better than fifth as the 1-2 favorite.

"This is like a restart for the year for us," Wilkes said. "We had a couple hiccups earlier this year and now we are looking to restart our year and point everything to the Breeders' Cup."

Along with his victory in the 2012 Classic at Santa Anita, Fort Larned notched wins in the Whitney and Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicaps. With eight wins in 21 career starts he has earned more than $3.7 million.