Whitmore Tops True North Field

A winner in his last five races, Southern Springs Stables, Robert LaPenta, and Head of Plains Partners' Whitmore will put his streak on the line in the $250,000 True North Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park June 9.

Based in Kentucky with trainer Ron Moquett, Whitmore is entering the True North off a half-length victory over multiple grade 1 winner A.P. Indian in the Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) May 20 at Pimlico Race Course.

The gelded 4-year-old son of Pleasantly Perfect has not lost since fading to 19th in the 2016 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). He has yet to be beaten in races around one turn, going back to his fall 2015 unveiling at Churchill Downs and including his first graded triumph in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 15 at Oaklawn Park.

Moquett is confident enough to call Whitmore the best sprinter in the country, particularly after the race in Maryland, where A.P. Indian appeared to have things his own way on the front end.

NOVAK: Whitmore Impresses in Maryland Sprint

"I am biased, but I believe that he is and I think we're going to see better from him. As he keeps mining his craft and improving and maturing, we're going to have a lot of fun with him," Moquett said. "He's competitive going long, but he's more superior going short."

 

Whitmore tuned up for the True North with a half-mile work in :48 June 2 at Churchill Downs, the ninth-fastest of 54 works at the distance that day.

"We're letting him decide when he runs. After the work and how he came back, we decided he wants to run now," Moquett said. "We'll probably space his races a little bit more after the True North, with our main focus being the Breeders' Cup and getting there to win it."

Among Whitmore's challengers in the True North is Belmont-based millionaire Stallwalkin' Dude, trained and co-owned by David Jacobson. The 7-year-old gelding has 18 wins, including seven stakes from 52 starts. Among those is a victory in the Bold Ruler Stakes (G3).

Second in the 2015 True North, Stallwalkin' Dude is coming into the race off a 1 3/4-length triumph in the six-furlong Diablo Stakes May 7 at Belmont, just five weeks following a sixth-place finish behind Mind Your Biscuits in the Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored By Gulf News (G1).

"He's very good, as good as he's ever been," Jacobson said. "We were a little concerned with his last race, coming back so quick from Dubai, but it didn't seem to faze him in the least. He should run a big race."

Stallwalkin' Dude, a $16,000 claim in the fall of 2014, has won nine of his 24 starts at six furlongs and has four wins from 10 tries at Belmont.

"I like him at six furlongs the best. With his style, it looks like he should like seven-eighths, but he just has that kick at three-quarters," Jacobson said. "Every time he runs, I pinch myself. I'm just so lucky to have a horse like that. It's an honor to train him."

True North S. (G2)

Belmont Park, Friday, June 09, 2017, Race 8

• 6f
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:42 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Chief Lion (FL)	Gary L. Stevens	118	David Jacobson	20/1
2	2Holy Boss (KY)	John R. Velazquez	118	Steven M. Asmussen	12/1
3	3Noholdingback Bear (KY)	Joel Rosario	124	Brian A. Lynch	4/1
4	4Stallwalkin' Dude (FL)	Joe Bravo	124	David Jacobson	3/1
5	5Fellowship (FL)	Javier Castellano	118	Kenneth Decker	8/1
6	6Green Gratto (NJ)	Christopher P. DeCarlo	124	Gaston Grant	10/1
7	7Roy H (KY)	Paco Lopez	120	Peter Miller	12/1
8	8Whitmore (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	124	Ron Moquett	2/1
9	9El Deal (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Jorge Navarro	12/1