WHITMORE HEAVY FAVORITE TO WIN THIRD HOT SPRING STAKES

By Jennifer Hoyt —-

Whitmore (inside), Coady/Oaklawn Photos

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Thursday, March 7, 2019) – The 2018 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner made it look easy in his seasonal debut. Now, the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up has his chance to shine again as Whitmore makes his 2019 debut in the $150,000 Hot Springs Stakes for older sprinters Saturday at Oaklawn.

Whitmore hasn’t started since finishing second to Roy H in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. Roy H, the country’s champion male sprinter of 2017 and 2018, returned to win the $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes (G2) Jan. 19 at Santa Anita by four lengths.

Whitmore, Oaklawn’s top older sprinter in 2017 and 2018, is bidding to join E J Harley (1998-2000) as the only horses to win the Hot Springs three consecutive years.

“The opponents all offer fitness over us, recency with races, and then we’re going to figure out what the track’s going to be,” trainer Ron Moquett said. “All I want is for him to go out there and come back safe and sound and happy and go from there.”

Whitmore is the even-money program favorite for the Hot Springs, which goes as the seventh of 10 races. Probable post time is 4:03 p.m. (Central). Doors open Saturday at 11 a.m., with first post 1:05 p.m.

The field for the 6-furlong Hot Springs field from the rail out: Whitmore, Ricardo Santana Jr. to ride, 115 pounds, even money on the morning line; Control Stake, Fernando De La Cruz, 115, 15-1; Welder, David Cabrera, 119, 6-1; Share the Upside, Ramon Vazquez, 119; 2-1; Petrov, Richard Eramia, 115, 12-1; and Heartwood, David Cohen, 122, 6-1.

The Hot Springs is the final major local prep for the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 13, which Whitmore also won in 2017 and 2018. Whitmore’s path to this year’s Hot Springs mirrors 2018 when he resurfaced there after competing in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Whitmore’s sterling resume includes 11 victories and $2,381,000 in earnings.

“I know we have a good horse,” said Moquett, who co-owns Whitmore with Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners LLC.
“I’ve got him as far as I can get him for this race. I’m confident.”

Heartwood returns to Oaklawn after winning the $100,000 King Cotton Stakes Feb. 9 for co-owner/trainer James Chapman. Control Stake finished second in the King Cotton, beaten a half-length. Share the Upside makes his stakes debut after a sharp 5 ¼-length allowance victory Jan. 27 for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The gelding ran 6 furlongs over a fast track in 1:09.36.

The most intriguing Hot Springs entrant is Welder, the 2018 Remington Park Horse of the Meet after winning four stakes, including the $159,450 David M. Vance Stakes Sept. 30. Welder, 15 of 23 overall, will be the first Oaklawn starter for trainer Theresa Luneack.

Welder is based at a Claremore, Okla., farm, but Luneack vanned the gelding to Oaklawn for a Feb. 24 half-mile work under Cabrera.

“I thought it might be good for him to get a feel for that track a little bit,” Luneack said. “I wanted to run him in the King Cotton, but the weather just wasn’t in my favor up here. It seemed like I’d get two good days and three bad days. I couldn’t get him fit to where I felt like he was ready to run in a stake. But this time, I’m in way better shape.”

Moquett said he’s looking at another race for Petrov, so he may be scratched. Petrov’s major spring objective is the inaugural $250,000 Oaklawn Mile May 3.