Whitmore skipping Churchill Downs Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Whitmore would have seemed like a prime candidate for the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Derby card after emerging as one of the top sprinters in North America over the winter at Oaklawn Park. But trainer Ron Moquett said Monday he was very unlikely to enter him in the seven-furlong race.

“He’s coming off a career-best race,” said Moquett, referring to the April 15 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park, where the 4-year-old gelding earned his third straight triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure. “It’d be very quick back against better competition. Our goal is to get him to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar, and I’m trying to be very selective with spacing. I think we’d be better off to stay at six furlongs and space out the races more.”

Whitmore was away from the races for seven months after finishing 19th in the 2016 Derby at 30-1 and has gone unbeaten in four starts, all sprints, since returning. He breezed a half-mile in 48 seconds here Sunday in his first work since the Count Fleet.

In his absence, the likely favorites for the $500,000 Churchill Downs are Masochistic and Awesome Slew.