Whitmore rallies to repeat in Count Fleet Sprint Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Whitmore ran down the entire field in the stretch Saturday to win the Grade 3, $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap for the second year in a row at Oaklawn Park. He won by three-quarters of a length over Wilbo, while it was another head back to Wynn Time in third.

The Count Fleet was one of four stakes on the meet’s final card, which was anchored by the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby. The estimated ontrack attendance was 64,500 on a sunny afternoon with temperatures in the 60s.

Whitmore ($3.60) was content to let the pace go as Smart Spree ran the opening quarter of the six-furlong race in 21.98 seconds, pushed along by Wings Locked Up. Whitmore still trailed as Smart Spree continued on through a half-mile in 45.64 seconds. In the stretch, Whitmore was still looking at the field but he kicked into high gear inside the final furlong and went on to cover the distance on a track upgraded to fast in 1:09.77.

Whitmore earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 102.

“When we turned for home, when he saw the clear, he was a different horse,” said winning rider Ricardo Santana Jr. “He flew by those guys.”

Trainer Ron Moquett was well-pleased with the effort from Whitmore.

“I just wanted him to get clear and whenever he got clear I was happy,” Moquett said. “Santana is a great judge of pace and he’s confident in the horse. He’s familiar with the horse.”

Moquett is an Arkansas native who grew up watching the Count Fleet.

“For me the Count Fleet is so special,” he said. “That was the fastest horse in my region, the winner of the Count Fleet.”

Moquett said Whitmore would now ship to Churchill Downs.

“We’ll see if we can find another spot and try to space him out to go to the Breeders’ Cup,” he said.

An option for his next start would be the Grade 2, $500,000 Churchill Downs on May 5, said Moquett.

Moquett said in addition to Santana, he was grateful for the efforts of his staff with Whitmore. The horse earned $240,000 for the win, his 10th from 18 starts. Whitmore has now earned $1,527,000.

Whitmore is a 5-year-old son of Pleasantly Perfect who races for the partnership of Southern Springs Stables, Robert LaPenta, and Head of Plains Partners.