Moquett leans toward Breeders' Cup Sprint with Whitmore

On Friday, trainer Ron Moquett will send out defending champion Whitmore in Keeneland's Grade 2, $250,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix, a six-furlong race and “Win and You’re In” race for the $2 million TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

Winner of the Forego (G1) at Saratoga in his most recent start, Whitmore is scheduled to van to Keeneland Tuesday from Churchill, where he worked Friday in the fog.

“I just saw the stretch and the gallop out, but he looked good,” Moquett said.

The victory in the Forego earned Whitmore a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and a win Friday would guarantee a spot in the Sprint, a race in which Whitmore finished eighth last year at Del Mar.

“I will probably wait until the last minute (to decide on which Breeders’ Cup race),” said Moquett, who owns Whitmore in partnership with Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners. “Right now I would say it is 80 percent to go to the Sprint.”

Also from Moquett's barn, Westrock Stables’ Torrent, third in last year’s Lexus Raven Run (G2) in her most recent Keeneland start, worked a half-mile in :47.80 over a fast track.

Working solo, Torrent produced fractions of :12.20, :23.40, :35.60 and out 5 furlongs in 1:00.60.

“She likes this track and seems very relaxed here,” Moquett said of Torrent, a probable starter in Saturday’s 6-furlong $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), a “Win and You’re In” race for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.

Torrent most recently sprinted three starts back with a fifth-place finish in the 7-furlong Humana Distaff (G1) on May 5 at Churchill Downs.

“We were chasing the money,” Moquett said about racing Torrent at longer distances. “I think she can do anything.”