Whitmore Back to Kentucky for Churchill Downs Stakes

Whitmore , the champion male sprinter of 2020, heads the field for the $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford (G1). The seven-furlong race drew 13 and is part of the 14-race May 1 card at Churchill Downs, which is highlighted by the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

Bob Baffert-trained Charlatan , winner of the Dec. 26 Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1) and most recently second in the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup (G1), might have kept the Churchill Downs field smaller. Though Baffert shipped Charlatan to Churchill for the race, he decided that the colt is "not ready yet" and will wait for later opportunities.

Whitmore is looking for his first 2021 victory and first since his popular win in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). During the Oaklawn Park meeting, Whitmore twice ran second to C Z Rocket , in the March 13 Hot Springs Stakes by a neck and the April 10 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) by two lengths. 

Ron Moquett trains Whitmore, an 8-year-old son of Pleasantly Perfect —Melody's Spirit, by Scat Daddy, and co-owns him with Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners. Ricardo Santana Jr. will ride Whitmore, who drew post 9.

"He's doing wonderful," said Moquett. "We love where he's at physically right now."

Whitmore is particularly popular among fans, who look forward to another chance to see him compete.

"He's got a lot of people that keep up with him—it's super cool," said Moquett.

Flagstaff , third in the Hot Springs and winner of the April 3 Commonwealth Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, will try to turn the tables on Whitmore. The 7-year-old gelded son of Speightstown  —Indyan Giving, by A.P. Indy, also finished second to Whitmore in the 2020 Count Fleet. Last year in California, Flagstaff won the San Carlos Stakes (G2) and twice ran second to C Z Rocket in graded events and late in 2019 won the Damascus Stakes.

John Sadler trains Flagstaff for Lane's End Racing and Hronis Racing. In the Kentucky Derby, Sadler will saddle Rock Your World  for Hronis and Michael Talla. Luis Saez rides Flagstaff from post 4.

"If you look at his record at seven-eighths, it's probably his best distance," said Sadler. "He had a couple good races at Oaklawn, but he kind of broke out in the Commonwealth at Keeneland. He's kept great company. He's just a really solid handicap horse in that division."

Mark Casse trains Derby entrants Helium  and Soup and Sandwich , and he has Live Oak Plantation's homebred Tap It to Win  in the Churchill Downs. A 4-year-old son of Tapit  , Tap It to Win in his only 2021 start captured the March 28 NYRABETS Sprint Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Last fall at Churchill he finished third in the Pat Day Mile Presented by LG and E and KU (G2). Tap It to Win drew post 5, and Casse has named John Velazquez on him.

Mind Control , a 5-year-old son of Stay Thirsty  , is a six-time stakes winner. In early 2020, he won back-to-back graded races at Aqueduct Racetrack: the Toboggan Stakes (G3) and Tom Fool Handicap (G3). In his only 2021 start, Mind Control finished second in the April 3 Carter Handicap (G1), also at Aqueduct.

Gregg Sacco trains Mind Control for owners Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables. Irad Ortiz Jr. will pilot Mind Control, who drew post 2.

Hog Creek Hustle  is the only horse in the Churchill Downs field to have competed in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Sprint against Whitmore. Hog Creek Hustle finished seventh that day from post 12 after an extremely wide trip. He will start from post 11 in the Churchill Downs, with Corey Lanerie, who rode him in the Sprint, again in the irons.

Owned by Something Special Racing and trained by Vickie Foley, Hog Creek Hustle is a 5-year-old son of Overanalyze . He won the 2019 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) and most recently finished sixth in Commonwealth.

Todd Pletcher and Greg Foley also have horses in both the Derby and the Churchill Downs. Pletcher trains Derby hopefuls Known Agenda , Sainthood , Dynamic One , and Bourbonic , while Foley trains O Besos .

For the Churchill Downs, Pletcher has entered Jackpot Farm's Basin , a 4-year-old son of Liam's Map  . Winner of the March 27 Sir Shackleton Stakes at Gulfstream Park in his 2021 debut, Basin in 2019 scored in the Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) and last year placed in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and two other graded races. He drew post 3 and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.

Foley trains Bango , a 4-year-old son of Congrats  , for owner/breeder Tamaroak Partners. Fourth in the Commonwealth, Bango, who will be ridden by Marcelino Pedroza from post 10, won the 2020 Mayers Electric Company Animal Kingdom Stakes at Turfway Park.

Phat Man , Attachment Rate  (also entered in the April 30 Alysheba Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet, G2), Shashashakemeup , Get the Prize , Endorsed , and Lexitonian  complete the field.

Entries: Churchill Downs S. presented by Ford (G1)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 01, 2021, Race 10

• Grade I
• 7f
• Dirt
• $500,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:31 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Phat Man (KY)	Javier Castellano	118	J. Kent Sweezey	12/1
2	2Mind Control (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Gregory D. Sacco	6/1
3	3Basin (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Todd A. Pletcher	8/1
4	4Flagstaff (KY)	Luis Saez	118	John W. Sadler	3/1
5	5Tap It to Win (FL)	John R. Velazquez	118	Mark E. Casse	8/1
6	6Attachment Rate (VA)	Joseph Talamo	118	Dale L. Romans	10/1
7	7Shashashakemeup (KY)	Florent Geroux	118	Peter Miller	12/1
8	8Get the Prize (KY)	Miguel Mena	118	Albert M. Stall, Jr.	20/1
9	9Whitmore (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	123	Ron Moquett	7/2
10	10Bango (KY)	Marcelino Pedroza	118	Gregory D. Foley	20/1
11	11Hog Creek Hustle (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	118	Vickie L. Foley	15/1
12	12Endorsed (KY)	Joel Rosario	118	William I. Mott	12/1
13	13Lexitonian (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Jack Sisterson	20/1