Red Fort worked seven furlongs on turf in a bullet 1:27 4/5 Sunday in his final drill for the $350,000 Charles Whittingham Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IT) at 1 1/4 miles on the Hollywood Park turf on Saturday. "He went very well, and I think a mile-and-a-quarter will suit him," said trainer Neil Drysdale of the 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding, a fast-closing second in the Inglewood Handicap (gr. IIIT) at 1 1/16 miles on grass April 30. Red Fort won three stakes in England in 2003 and 2004 at distances from 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 miles.Drysdale, a former assistant to the legendary Whittingham, has won the race five times, most recently in 2003 with Storming Home. Corey Nakatani has the Whittingham call back.
Trainer Bobby Frankel, also a five-time winner of the race, nominated Vangelis, Continuously and the mare Megahertz, with a decision due soon.Sweet Return, winner of the 2003 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT), worked one mile on turf in 1:44 1/5, and will run either in the Whittingham or Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) the same day at Belmont, depending on weights, according to trainer Ron McAnally.Other probable starters are Stanley Park (Jose Valdivia, Jr.), who breezed six furlongs on the main track in 1:17 4/5; 2004 third-place finisher Just Wonder (Rene Douglas); Deputy Lad (Tyler Baze) and Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IT) winner Pellegrino.
