Mitole unseats Whitmore in Oaklawn's Count Fleet Sprint

It took a minute, nine seconds and 36 one-hundredths more on Saturday to crown a new king of sprinting at Oaklawn Park.

The 4-year-old Mitole turned back Whitmore in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, never quite getting headed by his elder in a statement performance in the slop.

“Very significant win here today,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “His first graded stakes win. He has an elite level of talent — hopefully holds together, and we’ve got many victories ahead of him.”

Fractions went in 22.49, 45.54 and 57.33 as Whitmore pressed outside of Mitole. Under Ricardo Santana Jr., however, the son of Eskendereya finally pulled away in deep stretch to win by two lengths in change.

"We feel that he has a lot of talent, and today he proved it," said Santana Jr., Whitmore's regular rider who chose the right assignment Saturday.

Whitmore, the 6-year-old gelding, prefers to come from farther off the pace than he did Saturday.

“Today was their day," said his trainer, Ron Moquett. "The short field, lone speed, that’s not his deal. 22 and change opening quarter. I’m proud of my horse.”

Mitole, campaigned by William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, was away as the 2-5 favorite in the six-furlong undercard feature on Arkansas Derby (G1) day.

The colt has now won five straight races dating back to March of 2017. He has made a limited number of starts after missing the second half of his 3-year-old campaign due to injury but returned with authority off the layoff with a 4 1/4-length allowance win that set Mitole up for the Count Fleet.

Asmussen has nominated Mitole to the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), a seven-furlong sprint on Kentucky Derby day.