Compact Count Fleet field still a puzzle

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The $400,000 Count Fleet Handicap at Oaklawn Park on Saturday drew six entrants, but leave plenty of time to handicap it because there isn’t a throw-out in the group.

The field for the six-furlong Count Fleet comprises four of the top five finishers from the Hot Springs Stakes; Smart Spree, who enters off three dominant victories; and Sam Houston Sprint Cup winner Wings Locked Up, who prepped for this race with an Oaklawn starter allowance victory.

The six-furlong Hot Springs was an odd race. Ivan Fallunovalot, Whitmore, and Wynn Time all raced on the pace. Ivan Fallunovalot spurted to a clear lead nearing the turn while Ricardo Santana Jr. kept a good hold of Whitmore. Wynn Time dropped from contention on the turn but then regained his best stride and finished well.

Whitmore held off a determined Wynn Time by a neck. Ivan Fallunovalot finished third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths.

A year ago, Whitmore scored strong wins in the Hot Springs, Count Fleet, and Grade 3 Maryland Sprint at Pimlico. He would go on to win the Grade 2 Phoenix in the fall, but he was not as explosive later in the year as he was in the spring.

Trainer Ron Moquett has trained Whitmore differently this year.

“I had him so keyed up last year and he ran so big early. Even though he went on to win races, I felt like I topped him early,” Moquett said. “So when I brought him back to training here, I decided that the first couple of races were not the end-all be-all. I figured if they were to beat him in the Hot Springs, they would beat him on not being fit.”

Moquett is confident Whitmore will improve in the Count Fleet. Look for him to settle farther off the pace and then launch his bid.

“He’s going to run big,” Moquett said.

Illinois-bred Wynn Time developed into a serious sprinter at Fair Grounds this winter for Hugh Robertson. He is trained at Oaklawn by Hugh’s son Mac.

“He’s a fast horse,” Mac Robertson said. “He got in a little tight on the turn of the Hot Springs. I don’t know if he was going to go by Whitmore late, but the turn cost him two lengths easy.”

Ivan Fallunovalot will have more company on the lead in the Grade 3 Count Fleet from Smart Spree, who has relished the move to dirt from Woodbine’s Tapeta surface. He has reeled off three Oaklawn wins, all for trainer Norm McKnight.

McKnight is stabled at Oaklawn for the first time, He reclaimed Smart Spree last spring with this meet in mind. The 7-year-old will be stepping up in class in the Count Fleet.

“In his only dirt race, he finished fourth in the Prince of Wales at Fort Erie as a maiden,” McKnight said. “I thought he would like dirt, but I sure never thought it would make as much of a difference as it has. His wins here look a little freakish.”

The field is completed by 6-year-old Wings Locked Up, who is in top form for trainer Clinton Stuart, and Wilbo, who finished fifth, beaten three lengths, in the Hot Springs for Chris Hartman.