Moreno targets Whitney

CYPRESS, Calif. – Moreno, who finished eighth in the $501,500 Gold Cup at Santa Anita last Saturday as the 4-1 third choice, will be pointed for the $1,250,000 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 8, a race he won in 2014.

Trainer Eric Guillot said on Wednesday that he would like to start the 5-year-old multiple stakes winner in a race in which he might be the lone speed.

“He loves that track,” Guillot said. “It sounds like a good plan of attack.”

In the Gold Cup at Santa Anita, Moreno never reached the lead in the 1 1/4-mile race and faded to finish eighth, 12 3/4 lengths behind winner Hard Aces. Guillot said he feared the Gold Cup was going against Moreno when he was only fourth in the first half-mile.

“If you’re in front of me, you’re going too fast,” Guillot said.

Owned by Southern Equine Stable, Moreno has won 4 of 28 starts and earned $2,967,190.