Untapable, Whitmore Breeze at Oaklawn

Whitmore moved closer to his scheduled start in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) April 16 at Oaklawn Park by working in company just after the track opened April 2 for co-owner and trainer Ron Moquett.

As he normally does, Whitmore breezed inside a stablemate—in this case 4-year-old multiple stakes winner Far Right—with Greta Kuntzweiler aboard. He covered a half-mile in :48 3/5 over a fast surface and galloped out strongly, according to Moquett.

Far Right, a candidate for the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) April 16 at Oaklawn, was credited with a half-mile in :49 2/5. Both horses broke off near the five-furlong marker and worked to the regular finish line.

"We always have to start with him at the five-eighths to get him rolling," Moquett said of Whitmore. "He's the kind, he likes to follow horses. He never starts until somebody else jumps in front."

Moquett called Whitmore's final major work for the Arkansas Derby "perfect" and was particularly impressed by his gallop-out times—five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 and six furlongs in 1:14 4/5.

"That will be good, because the gallop out was ridiculous," Moquett said. "All I'll do now is something easier than this."

After winning an allowance/optional claiming sprint in his 3-year-old debut, Whitmore finished second in the final two major local preps leading up to the Arkansas Derby. He was runner-up to Suddenbreakingnews in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 15 and second to Cupid in the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) March 19.

Also on the worktab April 2 was champion Untapable, who is targeting the April 16 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I). The daughter of Tapit   worked five furlongs in company for trainer Steve Asmussen. She and Bold Conquest, fifth in last year's Arkansas Derby (gr. I) were both credited with 1:01 1/5.

Untapable began her 2016 campaign with a runner-up finish to Call Pat in the Azeri Stakes (gr. II) March 19, the final major local prep for the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom.

Call Pat worked a half-mile in :48 1/5 over a fast track April 1 at Oaklawn for trainer Brad Cox.

"Breezed great," Cox said. "Went really well. She's really on track for the Apple Blossom."

Another breezer April 2 was La Macchina, who worked a half in :48 flat for owner and trainer Otabek Umarov. La Macchina, who won the Essex Handicap Feb. 13 at Oaklawn, is pointing for the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II) April 23 at Charles Town. La Macchina finished sixth in the Razorback Handicap (gr. III) March 19, the final major local prep for the Oaklawn Handicap.

"The Oaklawn Handicap is coming up tough," Umarov said after training hours Saturday morning.