Whitmore, Promises Fulfilled pointing to Keeneland's Phoenix Stakes
Robert LaPenta, Head of Plains Partners and Ron Moquett’s multiple graded stakes-winning sprinter Whitmore breezed a maintenance half-mile in :49.20 Friday morning at Churchill Downs as the chestnut gelding continues his preparation for Keeneland’s Oct. 6 Phoenix Stakes (G2) and the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Sprint beneath the historic Twin Spires.
“He’s just doing awesome,” said Moquett, who also trains Whitmore. “It was just an easy work this morning but we’ll tune things up next week as we move closer to the (Phoenix). He’s a difficult horse to breeze because if you don’t ask him to do anything, he’ll go :52. However, if you ask him to run a little bit he can easily go :46.”
Whitmore, a 5-year-old son of Pleasantly Perfect, worked on the inside of stablemate Pryor in the first set of horses when the track opened at 5:30 a.m. ET.
Most recently, Whitmore rallied from just off the pace to defeat seven rivals in the Aug. 25 Forego at Saratoga. The 11-time winner finished eighth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar.
Trainer Dale Romans also reported top sprinter Promises Fulfilled will have one prep race in the Phoenix prior to running in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Sprint or Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs. Additionally, trainer Jorge Navarro said multiple stakes winner X Y Jet will target the Phoenix having missed this weekend's De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) due to a minor setback.