Fort Larned wins Stephen Foster Handicap, and review of The Cuckoo's Calling

July 15, 2013

Dear Readers,

      Continuing my look at the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series by date, I am still looking back at results rather than handicapping upcoming races.

      The 1 1/8^th Miles Stephen Foster Handicap is a G1 race and was run on June 15^th this year over the Churchill Downs dirt track. The race was named to honor the famed composer Stephen Foster, whose work includes “My Old Kentucky Home.” This well known song is played annually as the field of horses scheduled to run in the Kentucky Derby parade in front of the grandstand. The familiar strains have become as iconic to Kentucky Derby day as the twin spires.  

      Fort Larned a five-year-old son of E Dubai and out of the Broad Brush mare Arlucea was bred and owned by Janis Whitham of Keoti Kansas. As last year’s winner of the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, Fort Larned had come off a disappointing finish in his last race and was allowed to go off as the fourth choice in the impressive six horse field. Dominate is the best word to describe the race Fort Larned ran in the Stephen Foster.

      Allowed to set his own pace on the front end by his jockey Brian Hernandez, whose main job was to hold onto the reins and keep his feet in the stirrups, Fort Larned looked powerful and focused on the task at hand. The race was run in a time that was one tick off the track record, it was obvious this horse is back to his form of last fall, and he'll be a force to contend with going forward in the season. Watch a replay of the race; it was a thing of beauty.

Fort Larned scored an easy victory in the Stephen Foster Handicap. Credit: Churchill Downs / Reed Palmer Photography

     There is an interesting bit of history linked to the name Fort Larned. Now a National Historic Site, the fort was in use from 1859-1878 to protect traffic along the Santa Fe Trail from hostile American Indians. Open to the public, the site is impressive and makes for a great family outing, check out the website. http://kansastravel.org/fortlarned.htm   

         Next up, we’ll be headed back to Argentina for the Clasico Belgrano. Stick with me; eventually we’ll have a good feel for the horses that make it to Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita in November.

       I did add a review on Amazon for the new J.K. Rowling book; The Cuckoo’s Calling, and while I was still thinking it had been written by Robert Galbraith. Here is my review;

—Unhappy is he whose fame makes his misfortunes famous. - Lucius Accius
     This Lucius Accius quote, inserted by the author at the beginning, could easily be used as the pitch line to flog this novel.
     I found the beginning pages a bit difficult, the writer’s cadence awkward for me. But I persevered and I am glad I did. You’ll ask yourself; “Isn’t this just another detective story with a quirky protagonist and his trusty sidekick, or in this case—girl Friday?”
     OK, another clichéd tough, laconic private detective? I don’t care. The author didn’t seem to care either, and knew I would recognize the usual character’s right from the get-go.
    When I walked through the black painted door, peeling and flaking, trudged up the metal staircase that spiraled around the antiquated birdcage lift….. By golly I was there; my mind’s eye could see it, black and white marble floors, fedoras and a black statue of a bird. Wait a minute, that’s Dashiell Hammett’s Sam Spade.
     Once again, I repeat, I Don’t Care; I have added Cormoran Strike to the list of hard-boiled detectives, like Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe that I would love to pal around with. You will too.

        Alrighty then, that does it for today. 

Take care,

Shelley Riley

www.shelleyriley.com