Arkansas Derby Hopeful Whitmore Works in Company With Far Right

Whitmore moved closer to his scheduled start in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 16 at Oaklawn by working in company just after the track opened on a sunny Saturday morning for co-owner/trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs.

As he normally does, Whitmore breezed inside a stablemate – in this case 4-year-old multiple stakes winner Far Right – with Greta Kuntzweiler aboard. He covered a half-mile in :48.60 over a fast surface and galloped out strongly, according to Moquett.

Far Right, a candidate for the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 16 at Oaklawn, was credited with a half-mile in :49.40. Both horses broke off near the 5-furlong marker and worked to the regular finish line.

“We always have to start with him at the five-eighths to get him rolling,” Moquett said of Whitmore. “He’s the kind, he likes to follow horses. He never starts until somebody else jumps in front.”

Moquett called Whitmore’s final major work for the Arkansas Derby “perfect” and was particularly impressed by his gallop-out times – 5 furlongs in 1:00.60 and 6 furlongs in 1:14.80.

“That will be good because the gallop out was ridiculous,” Moquett said. “All I’ll do now is something easier than this.”

After winning an allowance/optional claiming sprint in his 3-year-old debut, Whitmore finished second in the final two major local preps leading up to the Arkansas Derby. He was second to Suddenbreakingnews in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 15 and second to Cupid in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) March 19.

Trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel said Suddenbreakingnews came out of Friday’s half-mile work at Oaklawn in good shape physically in preparation for his scheduled start in the Arkansas Derby. Suddenbreakingnews finished fifth in the Rebel.

Trainer Jinks Fires of Hot Springs said he may work Discreetness Sunday morning at Oaklawn in advance of his scheduled start in the Arkansas Derby. Discreetness won the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 18 at Oaklawn before finishing seventh in the Southwest and Rebel.

Dazzling Gem Update

Brad Cox said he’ll probably work Dazzling Gem next Saturday at Oaklawn, which would mark the lightly raced colt’s first breeze since finishing third in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) March 26 at Fair Grounds.

Cox said Dazzling Gem is under consideration for five stakes races, including the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 16 at Oaklawn, $150,000 Lexington Stakes (G3) April 16 at Keeneland and May 7 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Cox said Dazzling Gem, owned by prominent Arkansas automobile dealer Steve Landers, returned to the track Wednesday at Oaklawn and is fine physically.

Cox said he’ll have a “little bit better idea where we’re going” after next Saturday’s work.

“We’ll probably, say, Sunday, Monday, kind of have an idea if we’ll look at the Arkansas Derby or the Lexington or possibly go straight to the Kentucky Derby,” Cox said.

Dazzling Gem won his first two career starts at Oaklawn, including a Feb. 13 entry-level allowance, before running third in the Louisiana Derby.

 
Source: Oaklawn Park