Fort Washington Up Just in Time for Canadian Turf Score

Cutting back in distance proved no problem for Magic Cap Stables' Fort Washington  as the 6-year-old's customary late run arrived just in time to win a thrilling four-horse photo in the $150,000 Canadian Turf Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park March 1.

In his last start, the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) Jan. 25, Fort Washington dropped to the back of the 12-horse field and rallied with a wide trip to finish fifth while beaten just 2 1/4 lengths. The same tactics were employed by jockey Junior Alvarado Saturday, but with only six rivals, he found much clearer sailing.

"He always shows up," said trainer Shug McGaughey, who won his fourth Canadian Turf. "He ran a really good race in the Pegasus. He didn't get beat that far. I'm optimistic when I bring him over here because I know he's going to run his race, win or lose."

While the son of War Front   bided his time in last, favorites Silent Heart  and Major Dude  tracked pacesetting Stanley House  through fractions of :23.65, :46.80, and 1:10.11.

The race appeared to be between those two as they took command and began to duel down the lane. However, Alvarado saved ground on the far turn and angled outside for the drive, hooking up with Irish Aces  to shrink the margin with each stride. 

Fort Washington's momentum carried him to the first-place position by a nose over Major Dude. Silent Heart finished a neck behind in third, but a stewards' inquiry was held on whether he impacted Irish Aces. Ultimately, no change was made.

Fort Washington completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.31 while paying $13.00 to win.

"I was probably a little farther back than I wanted to be. The track is playing very fast, but at the same time, I couldn't make my horse do something he doesn't want to do," Alvarado said. "He's such a trying horse. Last race he didn't have the greatest trip and today it worked out much better."

Bred in Kentucky by Joseph Allen and White Birch Farm, the son of War Front was a $260,000 purchase at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale. He is now a two-time grade 3 winner with career earnings of $574,922.

Off the Layoff, Special Wan Strong in Honey Fox

Later in the card, the victory was much more authoritative for Team Valor International and Steven Rocco's Special Wan  as she took home her first graded win in the $150,000 Honey Fox Stakes (G3T).

Twice group 3-placed in Ireland—where she was bred by Kilnamoragh Stud—Special Wan aced her United States debut in a September Kentucky Downs allowance race before running a flat seventh in top company at Keeneland in the First Lady Stakes (G1T) Oct. 5. Unraced since, trainer Brendan Walsh had the 5-year-old daughter of Belardo  fit and ready to run.

"She's really rounded off," Walsh told FanDuel TV in regard to her development during the five-month layoff. "I think a lot of these horses, they come over to this country and either do well off the plane—which she did—or they need to take a little time. We gave her the time."

With Luis Saez in the irons, Special Wan took up the perfect position while easing into second well off pacesetting In Our Time . Saez bided his time five lengths off the lead behind fractions of :23.54 and :46.37 before inching closer as Ozara  challenged her for the second after a half-mile.

"I knew the horse outside (In Our Time) was the speed," Saez said. "We broke from there pretty well, and everything came out like the plan. We followed her for a half-mile and I had a lot of horse. I saw someone (Ozara) make a move early, but I was not worried. I knew we had a lot of horse and got to the leader."

Cutting into the margin, Special Wan drew even with In Our Time as they turned for home. In Our Time and Edwin Gonzalez put up a fight, but Special Wan was too much for her inside the final furlong, hitting the wire 1 1/4 lengths clear. She completed one mile in 1:32.77 and paid $9.40 to win. In Our Time held for second while Poolside With Slim  was third.

"She seems like she can do anything," Walsh said. "It was great to get the time with her down here and do what she did today."