Whitmore Remains as Reliable as Ever at Oaklawn Park

In a world where facts and beliefs seem to change on an hourly basis, Whitmore continues to be as reliable as they come.

Another brilliant chapter in the 7-year-old gelding's incredible success story at Oaklawn Park was scripted April 18 when he rallied for a three-quarter-length victory in the $350,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3)—his third victory in the past four years in the six-furlong stakes—and become the Hot Springs track's all-time leader with seven stakes wins.

"We're blessed to have him," said trainer Ron Moquett, who also owns a share of the gelding through his Southern Springs Stables. "When you wake up every day in this game, you dream of a horse like this that you can count on and who is talented and honest. We are so grateful.

"This is my life. This is what I live for. I will never try to be a leading trainer. I don't have an ego. I want to develop horses and have good horses and do right by them to help them reach their potential. I think I'll live to be 100, but if something happens and I go tomorrow, then this is the kind of stuff I wanted to do." 

For Moquett, who has been training for more than 22 years with slightly more than 800 wins, the victory was especially satisfying, coming at a time when he's among a group with a high risk of contracting COVID-19. He's feeling well, but, to be safe, he's now forced to spend his days sheltered at home, which, fortunately enough, is close enough to Oaklawn Park so that he can “feel the horses rush by when they pass the 4 1/2-furlong pole.”

"If people with lung problems or immune disorders are supposed to be concerned, then I have an immune disorder that has caused me to lose about 80% of both of my lungs. So I'm Exhibit A for people who should be concerned about the virus," he said. "We're being very careful, and I'm lucky we have a routine where I can see the horse train from my yard and not be around people. I'm under house arrest, and I underestimated how hard it would be, but, I'll tell you, days like this make it easy."

Adding to his accolades, Whitmore moved past the $3 million mark in earnings for his ownership group, which also includes Robert LaPenta and Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners. He won for the 14th time in 34 starts.

The victory under jockey Joe Talamo over a highly competitive field of 10 rivals was the ninth in 14 starts for the Pleasantly Perfect gelding at Oaklawn, where he has earned $1,612,600 while winning the Count Fleet a record three times (he also won in 2017-18).

"He likes other places, but here his barn is literally 30 yards from my back door. And we're right here close to each other, so it's home for him, too," Moquett said. "I know how the track here is, and I've figured out some things, like when to work and when you don't, when you work five days out and when you work seven days out."

Whitmore might have four consecutive Count Fleet wins to his credit, except that he ran into eventual sprint champion Mitole  in last year's edition. The field for the 2020 edition, which was delayed a week because of some reshuffling caused by the pandemic, may not have boasted a freak like Mitole, but the field was so deep and balanced that Whitmore ($8.20) was favored at generous odds of $3.10-to-1.

"I was seeing people's selections, and Whitmore wasn't even in some exactas," Moquett said. "That's how tough the field was."

Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Windsor Boys Racing's Share the Upside and Autumn Hill Farms Racing Stables' Bobby's Wicked One battled for the early lead through a :21.69 opening quarter-mile, but it was not Bobby's Wicked One's day, and the 9-2 fourth choice quickly faded to last and jogged across the wire.

Approaching the quarter pole, Juddmonte Farms' Hidden Scroll surged to a short lead, but Whitmore and Talamo were following close behind while moving up from sixth. When Hidden Scroll, the 7-2 second choice, tired in the lane and wound up seventh, Whitmore moved to the front before the eighth pole and had a safe cushion as 7-2 co-second choice Flagstaff and jockey Joel Rosario closed fast from sixth in the final furlong to take second.

The final time was a fleet 1:08.95 for Whitmore, a son of the Scat Daddy mare Melody's Spirit. While following a win in the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn, the gallant gelding once again ran with bar shoes as he usually does until summer when his feet grow into his shoes.

Lane's End Racing and Hronis Racing's Flagstaff, a 6-year-old Speightstown  gelding and the 122-pound highweight for trainer John Sadler who gave Whitmore one pound, was a half-length ahead of 74-1 shot Manny Wah, a son of Will Take Charge  who finished third for owner Susan Moulton and trainer Wayne Catalano.

Flagstaff was victorious in the San Carlos Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park in his previous start.

As for what's next for Whitmore, with only a handful of tracks operating and stakes schedules in limbo, Moquett has just one target in mind at the moment.

"If there's a Breeders' Cup and Whitmore wants to, we'll be there for the Sprint (G1)," Moquett said about the gelding who has raced three times in the grade 1 sprint stakes, finishing third last year and second in 2017. "He's been third and second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, so we want to complete the order with a win."

Video: Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3)