Pace setup looks to favor Whitmore in Churchill Downs Sprint

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mitole used a tactical advantage to handily defeat Whitmore in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap last month at Oaklawn Park.

Saturday, when the two sensational sprinters square off again in the Grade 1, $500,000 Churchill Downs Sprint Handicap, the tactical advantage would appear to favor Whitmore.

Mitole was the only speed in the April 13 Count Fleet, which had a field of five going six furlongs. Whitmore, who does his best running from off the pace, had to get out of his game and he pressed Mitole through a modest half-mile in 45.54 seconds. In the lane, Mitole ran away from Whitmore, beating him by 2 3/4 lengths.

In the Churchill Downs, at seven furlongs, there looks to be plenty more speed types to run with Mitole, including Promises Fulfilled, Bobby’s Wicked One, and potentially Uncontested.

“Seven-eighths is usually a race that doesn’t have as much speed, so usually it’s a disadvantage,” said Ron Moquett, the trainer of Whitmore. “But this time I need everybody to stay in. I want the good horses in there and I want them to all go up there and assert themselves early in the race and we’ll try to be about mid-flight somewhere.”

Javier Castellano will ride Whitmore for the first time, breaking from the outside post.

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Whitmore has run seven furlongs only three times in his career. Last August at Saratoga, he beat City of Light in the Grade 1 Forego. City of Light came back to win the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November and the Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January.

Prior to winning the Forego, Whitmore was beaten a neck by Limousine Liberal in the seven-furlong Belmont Sprint Championship last July. Limousine Liberal, who won this race the last two years, suffered a career-ending sesamoid injury to his left foreleg while galloping Wednesday at Keeneland. He was entered but will obviously scratch from the Churchill Downs.

Mitole has been brilliant winning his last five races. He has made seven of his nine starts at Oaklawn Park and has never raced at seven furlongs or at Churchill Downs.

“He’s a fast horse,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “It’ll be his first race past three-quarters. I think he can do it.”

Mitole won the Chick Lang Stakes last May at Pimlico but missed the remainder of the year with a physical issue. He has romped in his first two starts this year and appears to have remained healthy.

“He’s had zero issues,” Asmussen said.

Promises Fulfilled has done his best work sprinting and on the front end. The same day Whitmore won the Forego, Promises Fulfilled won the Grade 1 Allen Jerkens for 3-year-olds.

Promises Fulfilled is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan. Trainer Dale Romans said Promises Fulfilled ran well “considering he missed the break.”

Asked if he was worried about Promises Fulfilled engaging in a speed duel with Mitole, Romans said: “Maybe Steve and I will flip a quarter and see who goes to the lead. I’m not going to take anything away from my horse, let him run. If they get out there and look at each other ... he’s done it before and kept going.”

Warrior’s Club came from off the pace to be second in this race last year at 23-1. He is coming off a second-place finish to Bobby’s Wicked One in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland.

Do Share is coming off a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure winning the Grade 3 Tom Fool at Aqueduct. While a bit suspect at seven furlongs, he is 3 for 6 in the slop, conditions that will likely be in play on Saturday.

Uno Mas Modelo earned a career-best Beyer in the slop at Churchill. He scratched out of a turf stakes here on Thursday. Majestic Dunhill figures to be a late factor under Manny Franco for trainer George Weaver.

Wild Shot and Still Having Fun complete the field.