Whitmore's BC Sprint plans still up in the air

Trainer Ron Moquett said a final decision has yet to be made on the starting status of Whitmore in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Whitmore, who has competed in each of the last two renewals of the Sprint, worked four furlongs in an easy 49.80 seconds on Friday at Churchill Downs.

“I’ll talk with the other owners later today. We’ll peruse all the information that’s available to us, and then make our decision,” said Moquett, who owns a share in Whitmore along with Robert LaPenta and Southern Springs Stable. “He worked absolutely like I wanted him to this morning. I told my rider to let him go between 49 and 50, and that’s exactly what she did. He can get a little worked up when he travels, so if we do go, I wanted him to do a little less today.”

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Moquett said he does have a spot reserved for Whitmore on a flight from Louisville to Los Angeles on Tuesday.

“If he comes back from the work today like we hope, I’m probably leaning towards going,” Moquett said. “I really like where we’re at with the horse right now.”

Whitmore is coming off a huge effort in the Grade 2 Phoenix at Keeneland, rallying from last following a poor start to finish second, beaten just a half-length by Engage.

Also on Friday, Diamond Oops indicated his readiness for the Sprint after turning in a sizzling seven-furlong workout at the Palm Meadows training center in Boynton Beach, Fla. According to track clocker Bryan Walls, Diamond Oops completed the distance in a dazzling 1:22.40 after posting early splits of 35.00, 58.20, and 1:09.80 along the way. Walls clocked him galloping out a mile in 1:36.

Trained by Patrick Biancone, Diamond Oops will switch to the main track and turn back in distance after finishing second in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile on Oct. 5 at Keeneland.