Jaxon Traveler edges Tejano Twist in Whitmore Stakes
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jaxon Traveler was greeted by a group of Hall of Fame members on Saturday after he won a tight photo over Tejano Twist to win the Grade 3, $250,000 Whitmore Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
The six-furlong race for 4-year-olds and up was the feature on the annual Hall of Fame Day card. It celebrated Hall of Fame members between races during a weekend’s worth of festivities.
Bill Mott and Laffit Pincay made the Whitmore trophy presentation to Jaxon Traveler’s trainer, Steve Asmussen, and the trio was joined by nearly 20 fellow members of the Hall of Fame in the infield winner’s circle.
One race later, Mott was in the winner’s circle with the comebacking Rocket Can ($4.80), who won an allowance to become the fourth next-out winner to emerge from the 2023 Kentucky Derby, behind Two Phil’s, Disarm and Reincarnation.
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Jaxon Traveler ($13) tracked the pace in third in the Whitmore as Ryvit and Surveillance raced together through an opening quarter in 22.41 seconds and a half-mile in 46.23. Jaxon Traveler joined those two three wide into the stretch and took sole possession of the lead leaving the eighth pole. He then held firm at the wire as Tejano Twist, who was barreling down the lane, also arrived at the finish line. Jaxon Traveler won by a nose over Tejano Twist.
Flavien Prat rode Jaxon Traveler, who covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.04.
“It was a good trip,” Prat told publicity at Oaklawn. “Settled down nice on the outside, made a good move when I asked him to go. I thought I kept a little something, but I knew it was going to be close.”
Jaxon Traveler is a son of Munnings who races for West Point Thoroughbreds. He has now won 9 of 28 starts for earnings of $891,849.
Ryvit, also trained by Asmussen, finished third in the Whitmore. He was 1 1/4 lengths behind Tejano Twist.
The retired champion Whitmore led the post parade for the race named in his honor Saturday.
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