Janis R. Whitham's Fort Larned breezed five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 at Churchill Downs Sept. 23 in preparation for the inaugural Homecoming Classic at Churchill Sept. 28.
At 1 1/8 miles, the $175,000 Homecoming Classic drew a field of seven.
With jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., aboard for trainer Ian Wilkes, Fort Larned was timed in splits of :13, :25 4/5, and :38 1/5. The 5-year-old son of E Dubai galloped out six furlongs in 1:15 1/5 and seven furlongs in 1:29.
"I'm happy," a satisfied Wilkes said following the work. "The horse is healthy. He's very bright, very alert."
The Homecoming Classic will serve as Fort Larned's final stop en route to defending his title in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park.
