Wednesday, October 31 2012

CHALLENGER CHAMP FORT LARNED PRIMED FOR CLASSIC

Tampa Bay Downs trainer Ian Wilkes admits he never expected his 4-year-old colt Fort Larned to be among the favorites for the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic after his victory in the Challenger Stakes at the Oldsmar oval on March 3.

“I’d be kidding if I said I thought he would get this good,” Wilkes said. “At the beginning of the year, we weren’t talking about the Breeders’ Cup. But he showed a lot of talent early in his career, and as the year went on he got better and better.”