Ascending Bob's Edge launches from last and wins the Whitmore

Bob’s Edge remained undefeated in 2022 when he came from last to score his first career graded stakes in Saturday’s Grade 3 $200,000 Whitmore Stakes before a crowd of 37,500 at Oaklawn Park. Last month, he won Oaklawn’s $150,000 King Cotton Stakes for owners Michael and Patricia Freeny and Jennifer Grayson Taylor.

In the Whitmore, 5-2 favorite Hollis, who earlier in the meet set a track record, grabbed the early lead and proceeded to set the pace of 21 4/5 and 45 seconds for the first half mile. Bob’s Edge was swung five wide by jockey Luis Quinonez turning for home and he quickly took control through the stretch to finish one length in front of late running Tulane Tryst.

The winning time was 1:09 2/5 for six furlongs over a fast track. Greeley and Ben edged Hollis by a neck for third.

Bob’s Edge, a 4-year-old Competitive Edge gelding trained by Larry Jones, improved his career record to 6-1-4 in 13 starts and he has earned $516,428. He returned $7.60 as the 5-2 second choice.

“I think Bob is getting smart on us," Jones said. "He’s figured out it’s better to run a quarter mile than it is five-eighths. So, he just waits until the quarter-pole and says, ‘Here I come.’

"We thought he would be behind that first tier, but he just kind of sat back today and waited. We’ve learned with Bob, don’t hustle him.”

[Related: Champion gelding returns to Oaklawn for Whitmore Day] 

The Whitmore Stakes, formerly the Hot Springs Stakes, is named in honor of the 2020 champion sprinter and seven-time Oaklawn stakes winner Whitmore, who won the Hot Springs four times. Whitmore, who was retired last August, made a special appearance on the track and led the post parade for the race.