N.Y.-based Jose Ortiz has great weekend in Arkansas

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Ron Moquett brought Eclipse Award finalist Jose Ortiz to town to ride opening weekend at Oaklawn Park, and the two had a memorable run Saturday and Sunday. The New York-based Ortiz won his first local race Saturday with the promising 3-year-old Rockshaw, then locked up the late double Sunday with the impressive Whitmore and the 3-year-old maiden special weight winner Dupree.

Ortiz, who was to ride Petrov on Monday in the Smarty Jones Stakes for Moquett, is based at Aqueduct but will be traveling for stakes this winter, said his agent, Jimmy Riccio. It was for Petrov that Moquett engaged Ortiz, but it was ultimately determined that he would come in and ride the entire four-day opener with one of Moquett’s primary jockeys, Ricardo Santana Jr., serving days for a riding infraction from last season. Santana will have his first mounts of the meet Friday.

As for Moquett, there are stakes decisions to make with Whitmore. The horse opened up options for his connections Sunday when he won a sprint allowance in authoritative fashion. The horse, who last year placed in each of Oaklawn’s graded preps for the Kentucky Derby, covered six furlongs in a powerful 1:08.81. Discussions will now begin as to the path he will take in 2017.

Moquett said Monday he and partners Robert LaPenta and Harry Rosenblum will debate the following Oaklawn races for Whitmore: the $125,000 King Cotton at six furlongs Feb. 4; the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 20; and the $125,000 Hot Springs at six furlongs March 11.

Whitmore won his second straight sprint race Sunday, following a Dec. 3 comeback at Aqueduct. The strong race Sunday was insightful in a couple of different ways, Moquett said.

“I think it gave evidence of the spacing that we needed to try to find – the recipe, hopefully – of giving him his best shot of consistency,” Moquett said.

Moquett also said he felt the horse recovered after the race quicker than normal, and he was pleased with the quality of runners he defeated while improving his sprint record to 4 for 4. All of those wins have come in allowances, Moquett noted, and there will be new challenges in this year’s sprint stakes at Oaklawn.

“Obviously, we have some awesome sprinters here,” said Moquett, noting horses like Ivan Fallunovalot and Alsvid. “I won’t take them for granted.”

Oaklawn’s most prestigious race for sprinters is the Grade 3, $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 15.

Rosenblum said before Sunday’s race that he would like to keep Whitmore sprinting. He noted that last year there was a plan to send the horse to Santa Anita for the Grade 1 Malibu at seven furlongs, but the proper flight arrangements could not be made for the Dec. 26 race.

Whitmore has now won four of nine starts and $562,000.