Whitmore 'ready to move forward' in Keeneland's Phoenix Stakes

Whitmore, with a victory in the race in 2017 and close second in 2018, will make his return from a layoff in this year’s renewal of Keeneland’s Grade 2, $250,000 Phoenix Stakes.

Trainer Ron Moquett said Tuesday that the 6-year-old son of Pleasantly Perfect, who finished eighth when last seen in the True North (G2) back on June 7 at Belmont Park, has healed up well since being grabbed by a rival horse in that race.

“I think he was needing a rest,” Moquett said. “He was coming out of a couple hard races, and we just used him getting stepped on and needing time for the foot to heal as a reason to give him the rest I wanted to give him.”

Whitmore lost his shoe leaving the gate in the True North and never got into the race.  That effort followed a fifth in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on May 4 and a second on April 13 in the Count Fleet Sprint (G3) at Oaklawn Park, with both of those events won by leading sprinter Mitole

Whitmore, who won his season debut in Oaklawn’s March 9 Hot Springs Stakes, also ran second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last fall. The Oct. 4 Phoenix is one of many “Win and You’re In” races set for Keeneland’s opening weekend that could send a contender like Whitmore on to the Nov. 1-2 championships at Santa Anita Park.

“My main thing is I want him to run back well and then go from there,” Moquett said. “There are no set plans or anything.”

Whitmore, who began his career running around two turns, including in the 2016 Kentucky Derby, developed into a multiple graded stakes winner sprinting. He sports a record of 12-8-2 in 28 starts for the ownership group of Robert LaPenta, Moquett and Head of Plains Partners.

“He gets to tell us when he’s ready to do whatever,” Moquett said. “I’m just happy that he’s ready to run. He’s a gelding, and his happiness is always the main thing. We’re ready to move forward.”

Whitmore will face in the Phoenix, among others, defending winner Promises Fulfilled and Recruiting Ready.