Fort Larned (foaled April 14, 2008) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic.
In 1988, Whitham and her late husband purchased the Argentinian mare Bayakoa and campaigned her in the United States, winning the Breeders' Cup Distaff in both 1989 and 1990.
[3] In 2007, Arlucea was bred to E Dubai, a horse who won both the Dwyer Stakes and the Suburban Handicap for his owners Godolphin Racing.
Apart from Fort Larned, his most successful runner has been the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Desert Code.
[5] Fort Larned was trained by Ian Wilkes, who had been a long-time assistant trainer for Hall of Famer Carl Nafzger, who won the Kentucky Derby with both Unbridled and Street Sense.
Wilkes decided to try the horse on the turf and Fort Larned responded by winning an allowance race on September 10 at Kentucky Downs.
[6] Fort Larned began his 2012 season in Florida with a loss in a handicap at Tampa Bay Downs followed by a win in the Challenger Stakes on March 3.
[7] Wilkes stated that the horse had made great improvement and it was suggested that he was well-suited by being allowed to "run free".
At the same course a month later he was moved into Grade I class and finished unplaced behind Ron the Greek in the Stephen Foster Handicap after being forced wide in the straight.
"[6] Fort Larned's improving form saw him start the 3-1 favorite for the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park in late September.
He moved up to challenge the leaders approaching the straight, then faded in the closing stages to finish third behind Flat Out and Stay Thirsty.
"[12] Fort Larned was sent to Santa Anita Park in November to contest the Breeders' Cup Classic, staying in the same barn that had housed his grand-dam Bayakoa.
"[17] A month later he was made 1/2 favorite for the Oaklawn Handicap but ran poorly to finish fifth behind Cyber Secret, leading Wilkes to suggest that the horse had been unsuited by the fast track.
The horse led from the start and drew clear of his five opponents to win by six lengths from Golden Ticket and Ron the Greek in what was described as a "stunning display".
[23] Fort Larned made his final start in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic, where he entered an early speed duel with Game On Dude and Moreno.
As a horse with no trace of Northern Dancer or Seattle Slew in his own pedigree, he is expected to be a popular "outcross" for mares from these lines.