Whitmore wins Breeders' Cup Sprint in fourth try

Making his fourth try in the Breeders' Cup, 7-year-old Whitmore reached a career pinnacle Saturday when saving ground throughout and spurting clear late to win the 37th running of the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Whitmore, who was third in last year's Sprint at Santa Anita, second in 2018 at Churchill Downs and eighth in 2017 at Del Mar, provided veteran trainer Ron Moquett with a first Breeders' Cup win. It was the second this week and 11th overall for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. 

Ortiz was content to ride the rail tucked inside horses while well of a pace of 21.64 and 44.66 set by 50-1 long shot Empire of Gold. Turning into the stretch, a wall of horses lined up to take aim at the leader. Whitmore, who was still racing along the inside, was finally eased out inside the three-sixteenth pole and promptly kicked clear to win comfortably by 3 1/4 lengths.

C Z Rocket, who entered with a five-race winning streak, got second by a neck of Firenze Fire with Empire of Gold holding on for fourth. Yaupon, the 6/5 morning line, checked in 10th after racing in tight quarters in the stretch.

Whitmore, who paid $38.60, completed six furlongs on a fast track 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.” 

“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," Moquet 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.

Owned by Robert Lapenta, Head of Plains Partners and Moquett, Whitmore improves to 38: 15-11-3 with more than $4.3 million in earnings. In six previous start this season the gelded son of Pleasantly Perfect had a pair of wins - in the Count Fleet (G3) and listed Hot Springs Stakes - at Oaklawn Park. 

Whitmore entered the Sprint off a fourth-place finish in the Phoenix (G2) at Keeneland behind Sprint rivals Diamond Oops, Empire of Gold and Echo Town. The Sprint is his second career Grade 1 win, adding to his victory in the 2018 Forego at Saratoga

"I’m so proud of the horse, proud for the connections," Moquett said. "I’m proud for everyone out there that’s thinking when you run last in the Kentucky Derby [in 2016], 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."