Moquett savors pair of wins by debuting juveniles
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ron Moquett is at it again.
Last year at Churchill Downs, Moquett sent out a pair of 2-year-olds to win maiden races – Far Right and War Story – and both wound up in the Kentucky Derby in May.
No one knows the ultimate destinies of Whitmore and Piracy, but one thing is certain: Sending them out to win their career debuts over the weekend at Churchill was an absolute blast for Moquett.
“It’s very comparable to winning graded stakes when something like this happens,” he said. “The accolades are the same, I know. You really feel good about all the work you and your staff put in to get there.”
Whitmore, a 2-year-old gelding by Pleasantly Perfect, won the 10th race Friday by 7 1/4 lengths and earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure for owner Southern Springs Stables.
Piracy, a 2-year-old filly by Pioneerof the Nile, won the fourth race Saturday by two lengths, getting a 60 Beyer for the Harlow Stables of Oklahoma oilman Eric Johnson.
In the ensuing days, Moquett said he fielded “crazy-big” offers for both horses. Since he is the managing partner of Southern Springs, he said he likely will sell at least a partial interest in Whitmore, but Johnson does not want to sell Piracy.
“Ideally, we’ll sell a piece of Whitmore, and I’ll get to keep him in the barn,” said Moquett.
Moquett, 44, perpetually is involved in wheeling and dealing behind the scenes. In fact, on behalf of Harry Rosenblum, he bought Far Right after two starts and sold War Story after one start, both in private deals. Those horses finished 15th and 16th behind American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby.