Whitmore Works Toward 6-Year-Old Debut

Several notable horses worked over a fast track Feb. 13 at Oaklawn Park, including multiple graded stakes winner Whitmore for co-owner and trainer Ron Moquett.

Breezing for the first time since he finished second in the $2 million TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, Whitmore covered a half-mile in :52 2/5 moments after the track opened. Whitmore is scheduled to make his 2019 debut in the $150,000 Hot Springs Stakes March 9, the final major local prep for the $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 13. Whitmore swept both races in 2017 and 2018.

Also breezing for the first time this year for Moquett were multiple stakes-placed Petrov and Frosted Ice, a stakes-winning 3-year-old colt. Petrov went four furlongs in :50 4/5. Frosted Ice went a half mile in :49 4/5.

"Very pleased with all three," Moquett said. 

Moquett is targeting an allowance race for Petrov's comeback spot, with his major spring objective the inaugural $200,000 Oaklawn Mile for older horses May 3. Frosted Ice could make his 3-year-old debut in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 16, Moquett said.

Frosted Ice closed his 2-year-old campaign with a 6 1/4-length victory in the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for New York-breds Sept. 21 at Belmont Park.

The Rebel is the third and final major local prep for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 13. 

Trainer Larry Jones gave Super Steed the green light for the Feb. 18 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds after the son of Super Saver  worked five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 shortly after the track opened under Terry Thompson. Super Steed finished seventh in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 25, Oaklawn's first major Arkansas Derby prep.

"Everything went well," Jones said of the work. "We're going to try again and see if we can pick up off that first day." 

Jones said Thompson will have the mount for the 1 1/16-mile Southwest. Powerful Jan. 26 allowance winner Jersey Agenda, among several Southwest candidates for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, worked a half-mile in :50 3/5. 

Breezing after the break for trainer Mark Casse was 2018 Queen's Plate winner Wonder Gadot. A finalist for a Sovereign Award as Canada's top 3-year-old filly of 2018, Wonder Gadot went five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 under David Cohen.

In addition to beating males in the Queen's Plate, Wonder Gadot finished second in the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Oaklawn's $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) last year. Wonder Gadot is unraced since she finished ninth in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill.