Whitmore starting season in King Cotton

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Whitmore’s march to a fourth consecutive appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint gets under way Saturday at Oaklawn Park, when he launches his 7-year-old season in the $125,000 King Cotton.

Wilbo, who won the six-furlong King Cotton in 2018, and Silver Ride, who is coming off a sharp win at Oaklawn, are part of an eight-horse field that also includes four-time stakes winner Nun the Less.

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But no entrant is more accomplished than Whitmore, a Grade 1 winner of $2.8 million who has been a Breeders’ Cup Sprint fixture since 2017, when he ran eighth at Del Mar off a win in the Grade 2 Phoenix at this year’s host site, Keeneland. Whitmore was then second in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at home at Churchill Downs and third in last year’s running at Santa Anita.

“We’re pointing toward the Breeders’ Cup,” said Ron Moquett, co-owner and trainer of Whitmore. “He really likes Keeneland. It’s easier on him on years he doesn’t have to travel. That’s our goal.”

But the first order of business, said Moquett, is the King Cotton. Whitmore has turned in some sharp breezes for the race, among his moves a five-furlong drill in 1:00.40 on Feb. 2 at Oaklawn.

“I love where we’re at,” Moquett said “This is the first time he’s ever run in the King Cotton. We usually wait and go to the Hot Springs. This year, because of giving him the summer off, he kind of had a different schedule.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Whitmore, by Pleasantly Perfect
Last 3 Beyers: 89-105-98

◗ Whitmore closed from next-to-last for third in the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 2, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 105 that he earned equaled his career-best number. He was beaten 3 1/2 lengths by eventual champion Mitole.

“I thought he ran very well,” Moquett said. “I think he ran against the bias that day a little bit.”

◗ Whitmore wrapped up his season one start later, finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile on Dec. 7 at Aqueduct.

“We wanted to try him once up there going a mile, and he didn’t run bad, but he didn’t run like Whitmore,” Moquett said. “I freshened him up and I pointed him to here. Obviously, we love doing well here, and that’s my goal, to try to do as well as we can while we’re at Oaklawn.”

◗ Whitmore is a five-time stakes winner at Oaklawn, and overall is 7 for 11 in Hot Springs, earning $1.2 million at Oaklawn. He’s also something of an elder statesman at the meet, as he’s been an Oaklawn regular since a 2016 allowance win at age 3.

“He’s really not as old as he is familiar,” Moquett said. “He’s a cool horse who loves what he does.”

◗ Joe Talamo has the mount from post 4 for co-owners Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners.

Silver Ride, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 94-79-85

◗ He enters off a sharp optional $80,000 claiming win Jan. 24 at Oaklawn, and the Beyer of 94 that he earned is the best last-race number in the King Cotton.

“We’ve changed up a couple things on his training,” said Robertino Diodoro, who led the local trainer standings through Sunday. “He ran huge last time, bounced back out of that race very well.”

◗ Orlando Mojica has the mount from post 3.