Whitmore to scratch from Keeneland allowance, points to Vanderbilt

Multiple graded stakes winner Whitmore will be scratched from an allowance race at Keeneland on Sunday, and be pointed towards the Grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga later this month, according to a tweet by trainer Ron Moquett.

With rain falling in Lexington on Saturday night and more rain forecasted for Sunday afternoon, it appears as though the scratch is weather-related and not an indication of any setback in the 7-year-old Pleasantly Perfect gelding's training.

A 14-time winner from 34 career starts, Whitmore has raced at Saratoga only once previously, when he won the Grade 1 Forego Stakes in August of 2018.

Whitmore would face Grade 1 competition in the six furlong Vanderbilt, scheduled for Saturday, July 25.

He has won his last two starts, both stakes races at Oaklawn Park -- the Hot Springs Stakes in March and the Grade 3 Count Fleet in April.