Whitmore goes for sixth straight in True North
ELMONT, N.Y. – The last time Whitmore was seen in New York, he won a high-end optional-claiming sprint in December at Aqueduct. He has not lost since.
Whitmore will be back in action in the Empire State on Friday, going for his sixth consecutive win when he starts in the Grade 2, $250,000 True North at Belmont Park.
The eight horses Whitmore must defeat include Green Gratto, the winner of the Grade 1 Carter in April at Aqueduct; Stallwalkin’ Dude, an earner of $1.3 million coming off career win No. 18; Holy Boss, a Grade 2 winner who was third in last year’s True North; Roy H, who comes off a Beyer Speed Figure of 106 for an off-the-turf sprint win at Santa Anita; and Noholdingback Bear, who is making his second start since the Breeders’ Cup.
The True North, for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs, is the start of an all-stakes pick four that runs on races 8-11. The minimum guaranteed pool is $500,000. The other races making up the sequence are the New York, Belmont Gold Cup, and Bed o’ Roses.
True North, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Whitmore, by Pleasantly Perfect
Last 3 Beyers: 101-100-104
◗ He is unbeaten at one turn, with all seven of his wins coming at the configuration. Whitmore’s last three starts have come in stakes, his most recent being the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint on May 20 at Pimlico. He rallied from next to last for a half-length win over Grade 1 winner A. P. Indian, covering six furlongs on a “good” track in 1:09.90.
“I don’t think it was the best showing of him, but what it was was a great effort,” said trainer Ron Moquett. “He did what he had to do to win.”
Moquett noted that the horse had trouble getting a hold of the surface in the Maryland Sprint. Whitmore emerged from the race in good condition, Moquett said, and the decision was made to target the True North. The timing of the race fits the horse’s long-range goal of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
“I wanted more racing now and less in the summer,” Moquett said. “I thought if we did this race, then we could wait and go the one time at Saratoga. That way, I would have a fresh horse for the Breeders’ Cup.”
◗ Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount.
Stallwalkin’ Dude, by City Place
Last 3 Beyers: 98-NA-100
◗ He won the $100,000 Diablo on May 7 at Belmont over Green Gratto and Noholdingback Bear. The start was Stallwalkin’ Dude’s first since a trip to Dubai, where he ran sixth in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen on March 25 at Meydan.
“We were concerned that he was running back pretty quick coming back from Dubai, but he seemed to enjoy the vacation,” said trainer David Jacobson. “He came back, and he ran well, and we’re expecting a big race from him in the True North.”
◗ In the Golden Shaheen, Stallwalkin’ Dude finished 5 1/2 lengths behind winner Mind Your Biscuits.
“He ran well,” Jacobson said. “He got checked coming out of the gate, had a bad post. He overcame it when he came home. He’s back to the same old Stallwalkin’ Dude, a consistent, hard-hitting horse. He loves to run.”
◗ Joe Bravo has the mount.
Noholdingback Bear, by Put It Back
Last 3 Beyers: 94-29-103
◗ Grade 3 winner rallied from farther off the pace than usual for second in the Diablo. The start was his first since a seventh-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November.
“I thought he ran very credible in the Diablo, hadn’t run since the Breeders’ Cup,” said trainer Brian Lynch. “Got himself a bit of work to do early and came with a really good run. He’s trained on very well since.”
