Sprint Talent Concentrated in Count Fleet Handicap
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Photo: Coady Photography
Whitmore wins his fourth consecutive edition of the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park
During a typical April, the nation's older male sprinters are split between graded races like the Carter Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack, the Commonwealth Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, the Kona Gold Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, and the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
This year, as the country grapples with COVID-19, which has led to meet cancellations and suspensions, only one such race is to be staged: the April 18 Count Fleet at Oaklawn, where racing continues without spectators.
The consolidation of strength shows in the 11-horse field. The six-furlong race features shippers from Kentucky, California, Florida, and Louisiana, joining a group of Arkansas-based runners led by Whitmore, who won the Count Fleet in 2017 and 2018 before a second to eventual champion Mitole last year when the race had only five runners.
"The bettors are getting something really cool. They're getting to see a condensed version of everybody who is anybody showing up for this race," said Whitmore's trainer and co-owner, Ron Moquett.
Indicative of the race's strength, Whitmore is not even the highweight despite a $2.9 million bankroll from nine stakes victories, including the Forego Stakes (G1) in 2018. He also twice hit the board in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).
Whitmore was pegged at 121 pounds by Oaklawn Park racing secretary Pat Pope, one less than Flagstaff, a last-out winner of the San Carlos Stakes (G2). The speedy Bobby's Wicked One is next at 120, followed by last year's Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) winner, Hog Creek Hustle, at 119.
Count Fleet highweight Flagstaff at Oaklawn Park
Whitmore is battle-tested against top competition. Since shifting away from routes as a 3-year-old, he has run with some of the nation's best sprinters, often during the summer and fall, before racking up victories at his winter/spring base at Oaklawn.
The late-running 7-year-old Pleasantly Perfect gelding comes off a victory in the March 7 Hot Springs Stakes, his fourth consecutive win in that race. Whitmore cracked 1:09 three times in the Hot Springs, running his fastest time this year when he zipped six furlongs in 1:08.54 under Joe Talamo, who returns Saturday. Whitmore races for owners Robert LaPenta, Moquett's Southern Springs Stables, and Head of Plains Partners.
"He's doing great. We're really excited to see where we're at," Moquett said. "We know that the racing office has done their job. They've put together a very good group of horses that are going to run. We want to see how we're going to stack up. I know this year's race is going to be a key race for what's going to be an interesting year getting towards the Breeders' Cup."
It was preparation for the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland that attracted trainer Al Stall Jr. to run Bobby's Wicked One in the Count Fleet for owner Autumn Hill Farms Racing Stables.
"I just wanted to keep him at that distance," Stall said. "I don't think he's as versatile as a horse like Mitole."
During his championship season last year, Mitole went 6-for-7, capturing the Sprint at six furlongs, the Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Twinspires.com (G1) and Forego at seven-eighths, and the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at a mile.
Bobby's Wicked One can match Whitmore in quickness over six furlongs. In romping in the ungraded Thanksgiving Classic Stakes and Duncan F. Kenner Stakes this winter at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, he sped through six furlongs in 1:08.68 and 1:08.55, respectively, under Miguel Mena, who never asked him for his best.
"We've been pointing for this race all winter long," Stall said. "They pushed it back one week, which is not a big deal. He's fully cranked. It's a 'money run' for sure."
Bobby's Wicked One won the Commonwealth last year at Keeneland, the 5-year-old Speightstown horse's only graded stakes win. He was grade 1-placed behind Mitole when second last spring in the Churchill Downs Stakes on the day of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
From California comes Flagstaff, who cuts back in distance after winning the San Carlos at seven furlongs, his first graded stakes victory. He also won the ungraded Damascus Stakes at seven furlongs last fall when racing on the Breeders' Cup undercard at Santa Anita.
"We think he's good at six (furlongs) to a mile," trainer John Sadler said. "So it's a little bit shorter, but it's a good purse. And, obviously, you want to run them."
With racing suspended at Santa Anita because of the pandemic, running in California was not an option. Joel Rosario, who has become the main graded stakes rider for Sadler's stable, picks up the ride on 6-year-old Flagstaff, a gelding by Speightstown. Flagstaff races for Lane's End Racing and Hronis Racing.
Others who merit attention include Hidden Scroll, last year's beaten favorite in the Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) and Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) who was a blowout allowance winner March 1 at Gulfstream; and local stakes winners Share the Upside and Nitrous, uncoupled barn mates from trainer Steve Amussen, a three-time Count Fleet winner.
Nitrous is ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., who has won the Count Fleet in five of the past seven years, including the past three.
Post time for the Count Fleet is 4:14 CT on an 11-race card that includes the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1).
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, April 18, 2020, Race 8Entries: Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Lexitonian (KY)
Adam Beschizza
116
Jack Sisterson
30/1
2
2Flagstaff (KY)
Joel Rosario
122
John W. Sadler
7/2
3
3Hog Creek Hustle (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
119
Gregory D. Foley
15/1
4
4Bobby's Wicked One (KY)
Miguel Mena
120
Albert M. Stall, Jr.
3/1
5
5Wendell Fong (KY)
David Cohen
115
Jeremiah C. Englehart
30/1
6
6Mr. Jagermeister (MN)
Terry J. Thompson
117
Valorie Lund
15/1
7
7Hidden Scroll (KY)
Martin Garcia
117
William I. Mott
4/1
8
8Manny Wah (KY)
Channing Hill
115
Wayne M. Catalano
30/1
9
9Whitmore (KY)
Joseph Talamo
121
Ron Moquett
5/2
10
10Share the Upside (ON)
Florent Geroux
117
Steven M. Asmussen
10/1
11
11Nitrous (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
118
Steven M. Asmussen
20/1
