Oaklawn: Bob’s Edge leads 9 runners in Whitmore Stakes
Bob’s Edge, winner of the King Cotton in his last start, headlines the Grade 3, $200,000 Whitmore Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn. Trained by Larry Jones, the 3-year-old Competitive Edge gelding was installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the race.
One of only two graded stakes across the country on Saturday, the Whitmore drew a nine-horse field. The six-furlong sprint for older horses was previously known as the Hot Springs and was upgraded to a Grade 3 for 2022.
In the King Cotton on Jan. 29, going the same distance as the Whitmore, Bob’s Edge made a move going four-wide around the turn, winning by 2 3/4 lengths. The gelding will be ridden by Luis Quiñónez in the Whitmore.
Bob’s Edge will break from post 2 on Saturday.
The 3-1 second choice on the morning line, Hollis, also ran in the King Cotton, finishing fifth for trainer John Ortiz.
“He didn’t run his race back in the King Cotton,” Ortiz told Horse Racing Nation in February. “That wasn’t his race. It wasn’t him. Nothing went his way, and he’s a horse that likes to have it his way. When it all lines up perfectly he does these type of performances, and coming back to 5 1/2 we knew that this was a perfect prep to get his confidence back up.”
After the King Cotton, Ortiz gave Hollis a prep race for the Whitmore, a 5 1/2-furlong allowance on Feb. 20, which he won by 4 1/2 lengths, kicking clear down the stretch. The Whitmore will be his first attempt at a graded stakes since the Shakertown (G2) at Keeneland last April, when he finished 12th.
Hollis will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. in the Whitmore. He will start on the extreme outside.
Greeley and Ben enters the Whitmore after winning his first three races of 2022, including a starter allowance at Oaklawn on Feb. 21, the Stonerside Sprint at Sam Houston on Jan. 30 and the Sam’s Town at Delta Downs on Jan. 8.
The 8-year-old Greeley’s Conquest gelding will be ridden by David Cabrera in the Whitmore. He is trained by Karl Broberg. Greeley and Ben drew post 3 for Saturday’s race.
The Whitmore is scheduled as the seventh race Saturday. It is scheduled to go off at 5:04 p.m. EDT, with first post at Oaklawn set for 2 p.m.
Saturday’s Oaklawn card is also set to include the Essex Handicap (G3).