2019/11/01 13:37
Nov. 5 & 6 | Del Mar
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HALL OF CHAMPIONS

Whitmore

  • Jockey
    Irad Ortiz Jr.
  • Trainer
    Ron Moquett
  • Owner
    Head of Plains Partners, LLC, Southern Springs Stables & Robert V. La Penta
  • Breeder
    John Liviakis
  • Sire
    Pleasantly Perfect
  • Dam
    Melody's Spirit

Trainer Ron Moquett's Whitmore finally broke through in his fourth attempt to win Saturday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland.

Though chilly on the tote at 18/1 as he broke from post 7 under Irad Ortiz Jr., Whitmore broke well and settled into his usual position well off the pace in the full field of 14.

Jasper Prince was ridden hard for the lead and outkicked Echo Town for sole command, then posted opening fractions of :21.64 and :44.66 while Echo Town, Empire of Gold, and the 6/5 favorite Yaupon chased closely.

Empire of Gold advanced in the far turn and took over the lead as Jasper Prince dropped anchor, but Whitmore - still stuck on the rail and looking for room at the top of the stretch - finally found space and exploded.

Taking the lead just inside the 1/8 pole, Whitmore drew off convincingly and won going away by 3 1/4 lengths while completing the 6-furlong fast dirt sprint in 1:08.61.

"He had a great trip," Ortiz Jr. said. "We wanted to break and have him relax and that’s what we did. He relaxed so good. I was able to cut the corner on the turn, and when I tipped him out, he just exploded. He’s a nice horse. He’s been running for so many years. He’s a warrior."

C Z Rocket outhustled Firenze Fire for second by a neck, while a fading Empire of Gold held onto fourth by a head and a neck over Manny Wah and Diamond Oops, respectively.

Completing the order of finish came Hog Creek Hustle, Yaupon, Lasting Legacy, Bon Raison, the field's lone female Frank's Rockette, Collusion Illusion, Echo Town, and Jasper Prince.

Vekoma, the 3/1 morning line favorite, was announced as scratched earlier in the week.

Whitmore's win avenged an eighth-place finish in 2017, a runner-up defeat in 2018, and a third-place effort in last year's running of this race. The 7-year-old Pleasantly Perfect gelding improved his record to 38-15-11-3 with $4,247,850 earned for co-owners Moquett, Robert LaPenta, and Head of Plains Partners.

"I said in the prerace interview that whenever there are this many track records, it’s almost impossible to think a closer is going to do well," Moquett said. "For him to run against the bias the way he did and the patience of the rider, the willingness to listen, it all worked out. I’m so proud of the horse, proud for the connections. I’m proud for everyone out there that’s thinking when you run last in the (2016) Kentucky Derby, kick them out, do right by the horse come back, and you have a shot to reach other dreams. You don’t discard them. You just do right by the horse and it keeps working out."

Whitmore returned $38.80 to win, $13.80 to place, and $7.60 to show. C Z Rocket brought back $7.60 to place and $5 to show, while Firenze Fire paid $6.40 to show.

Breeders’ Cup Record
2020 Sprint
$ 535,000

Breeders’ Cup Earnings

3 Starts
1 Place
0 Wins
1 Show
Lifetime Stats

Lifetime

38 Starts 15 Wins 11 Place 3 Show

$4,247,850 Earnings

2020

7 Starts 3 Wins 2 Place 0 Show

$1,426,500 Earnings

2019

7 Starts 1 Wins 2 Place 1 Show

$440,350 Earnings

2018

8 Starts 3 Wins 4 Place 0 Show

$1,169,000 Earnings

Previous Races

2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
ReplayDateRaceTrackGradeFinish
November 07, 2020Breeders' Cup SprintKEENELAND11
October 02, 2020Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S.KEENELAND24
August 29, 2020Forego S. Presented by America's Best RacingSARATOGA17
July 25, 2020Alfred G. Vanderbilt H.SARATOGA12
April 18, 2020Count Fleet Sprint H.OAKLAWN PARK31
March 07, 2020Hot Springs S.OAKLAWN PARK 1
February 08, 2020King Cotton S.OAKLAWN PARK 2
ReplayDateRaceTrackGradeFinish
December 07, 2019Cigar Mile H.AQUEDUCT17
November 02, 2019Breeders' Cup SprintSANTA ANITA PARK13
October 04, 2019Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S.KEENELAND22
June 07, 2019True North S.BELMONT PARK28
May 04, 2019Churchill Downs S. presented by Twinspires.comCHURCHILL DOWNS15
April 13, 2019Count Fleet Sprint H.OAKLAWN PARK32
March 09, 2019Hot Springs S.OAKLAWN PARK 1
ReplayDateRaceTrackGradeFinish
November 03, 2018TwinSpires Breeders' Cup SprintCHURCHILL DOWNS12
October 05, 2018Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S.KEENELAND22
August 25, 2018Forego S.SARATOGA11
July 07, 2018Belmont Sprint Championship S.BELMONT PARK22
June 08, 2018True North S.BELMONT PARK22
May 05, 2018Churchill Downs S. presented by Twinspires.comCHURCHILL DOWNS24
April 14, 2018Count Fleet Sprint H.OAKLAWN PARK31
March 10, 2018Hot Springs S.OAKLAWN PARK 1
ReplayDateRaceTrackGradeFinish
November 04, 2017TwinSpires Breeders' Cup SprintDEL MAR18
October 06, 2017Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S.KEENELAND21
September 16, 2017Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash S.LAUREL PARK32
June 09, 2017True North S.BELMONT PARK23
May 20, 2017Maryland Sprint S.PIMLICO31
April 15, 2017Count Fleet Sprint H.OAKLAWN PARK31
March 11, 2017Hot Springs S.OAKLAWN PARK 1
January 15, 2017 OAKLAWN PARK 1
ReplayDateRaceTrackGradeFinish
December 03, 2016 AQUEDUCT 1
May 07, 2016Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! BrandsCHURCHILL DOWNS119
April 16, 2016Arkansas DerbyOAKLAWN PARK13
March 19, 2016Rebel S.OAKLAWN PARK22
February 15, 2016Southwest S.OAKLAWN PARK32
January 16, 2016 OAKLAWN PARK 1
ReplayDateRaceTrackGradeFinish
November 21, 2015$1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot S.DELTA DOWNS35
November 06, 2015 CHURCHILL DOWNS 1
Breeders' Cup World Championships

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