Breeders' Cup Sprint decisions await for Phoenix Stakes' top finishers

Woodford Racing’s Engage came out of his half-length victory in Friday’s Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) in good shape and was scheduled to return to Steve Asmussen’s barn at Churchill Downs on Saturday, according to Asmussen assistant Ronny Werner.

The victory earned Engage a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

Engage and third-place finisher Lexitonian were the only two Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix runners to have worked over the track last week.

“He was on one of the first loads to ship in here,” Werner said of Engage, who had been at Saratoga.

Runner-up Whitmore returned to trainer Ron Moquett’s barn at Churchill last night.

“He missed the break, spotted the field about 14 lengths and on a speed-favoring race track,” Moquett said of Whitmore, who was making his first start in four months.

Owned in part by Moquett’s Southern Springs Stable, Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners, Whitmore won the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix in 2017 and was second last year before finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs.

“Like I always do, the horse will decide where he goes,” Moquett said of a possible Breeders’ Cup run. “We are just along for the ride.”

Jack Sisterson, trainer of Calumet Farm’s Lexitonian, said the Breeders’ Cup Sprint also was a possibility for his 3-year-old runner.

“We may look at it (the Breeders’ Cup Sprint) and we may have some other horses (for the 14-race World Championships),” Sisterson said.

Lexitonian briefly struck his head in front at midstretch but could not hold off his older rivals.

“He really tried,” Sisterson said. “(Jockey) Adam (Beschizza) stayed aggressive on him and when you put him in a battle, he will give 110 percent.”