Woodward workouts for Flat Out and Fort Larned

Saratoga Springs, NY (Sports Network) – Monday morning was final workout time for a pair of starters in Saturday’s Woodward at Saratoga Race Course.

Putting in their last works before going in the 1 1/8-mile stakes were trainer Bill Mott’s Flat Out and Fort Larned, trained by Ian Wilkes.

Flat Out, most recently the winner of the Suburban Handicap, worked four furlongs in 48.30 seconds with regular exercise rider Neil Poznansky in the saddle.

“We had the option (to run Flat Out in the Whitney),” Mott said. “He had won the Suburban, and we thought if he was doing really, really well going into the Whitney, we’d run. We worked him and thought he maybe wasn’t on his game 100 percent. He has always had issues with his feet, and we thought we needed a little more time for one of his feet.

“With that being said, we pointed to the Woodward. We didn’t want to skip them both. This work today was as good as Neil has felt him. He gets on him every day, and he seemed to think he was more on his game than he has been some of his previous works.”

On Sunday, Mott had Ron the Greek workout for the Woodward. The 6-year-old covered four furlongs in 49.30 seconds at the Oklahoma training track.

“Ron was bucking and squealing yesterday, and Neil thought Flat Out gave him a good feel this morning,” Mott said.

Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Fort Larned worked six furlongs Monday at Saratoga. Wilkes had jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. fly in from Kentucky for the workout.

“It was a nice work, and I’m very pleased with it. The only thing I can control is my horse, and I’m happy with him,” Wilkes noted after the 5-year- old went 1:12.60.

Fort Larned was fifth to Cross Traffic in the Whitney after winning the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs in June.

“Last year he was running all year,” said Wilkes. “I feel this year he needs more racing. After this, we’re definitely going to look at the Jockey Club Gold Cup (Sept. 28).”

Others expected for the $750,000 Woodward at 1 1/8 miles are Cross Traffic, Successful Dan, Mucho Macho Man, Alpha and Paynter.

Categorized in: Horses