Whitmore looks to build on notable resume in competitive Forego presented by America’s Best Racing

Veteran war horse Whitmore will face off against three other Grade 1 winners in Saturday’s 41st running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Forego presented by America’s Best Racing at Saratoga Race Course.

The seven-furlong event for older horses over the main track is named in honor of one of the greatest racehorses of all time, who won eight Eclipse Awards during a storied racing career. Owned by Martha F. Gerry’s Lazy F Ranch, Forego was named Horse of the Year for three straight years (1974-76) while displaying versatility having won stakes at distancing ranging from seven furlongs to 2 miles. Forego won some of New York’s most historic races on multiple occasions including the Woodward (197477); the Met Mile (1976-77); the Brooklyn (1974-76).

Boasting a record of 35-14-11-3 and lifetime earnings of over $3.1 million, Whitmore will attempt to join Groovy (1986-87) and

Quick Call (1988-89) as the only horses to win multiple editions of the Forego.

A winner of the 2018 Forego over subsequent Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup winner City of Light, Whitmore boasts six graded stakes victories including three triumphs, in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park [2017-18 and 2020]. In addition to wins in the 2017 Grade 3 Maryland Sprint at Pimlico and Grade 2 Phoenix at Keeneland, the 7-year-old son of Pleasantly Perfect has also scored four straight editions of Oaklawn’s Hot Springs, winning every year since 2017.

Owned by trainer Ron Moquett in partnership with Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners, Whitmore arrives at the race off a runner-up finish to Volatile in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 25 at the Spa. Moquett originally intended on training up to the Phoenix at Keeneland en route to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, where Whitmore has finished a respective second and third in the last two runnings.

“I always leave it up to the horse,” Moquett said. “We came out of the last race fresh and in good shape, so I decided I’d run him once before the Phoenix instead of having to work him back a couple times. The thing about New York in Grade 1s is that they always show up, so you got to bring your ‘A’ game. It’s a talented group of trainers and big group of owners that want to win.”

Whitmore has breezed twice over the Churchill Downs main track since the Vanderbilt, most recently breezing five-eighths in 1:02.60 on August 22.

Moquett said a clean trip is the key to a positive result for Whitmore.

“That’s the main thing,” Moquett said. “Pace makes the race as we’ve seen in a lot of these races. He’s always good enough to make a big difference but you want him to do it without being put at a disadvantage.”

Whitmore has displayed the ability to perform well wherever

Moquett sends him having won over six different tracks, including Oaklawn Park where he has won nine of his 14 victories.

“I’ve always been able to draw the line through that excuse,” Moquett said. “I hear gamblers say that he’s an Oaklawn horse, but people forget that we ran behind the champion sprinter Roy H in the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill. He’s run against Mitole, where he had to go up against the track bias at Santa Anita and make up ground to run third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last year. So, he’s always been a horse that’s been able to put up a strong effort anywhere.”

At the age of 7, Whitmore will attempt to become the oldest horse to win the prestigious Spa sprint.

“He likes to run,” Moquett said. “I’ve had some horses that you can tell aren’t interested in racing after a while, but the horse always makes the decision of what they do in our barn. So, we ask the questions and with Whitmore, he’s always answered that he wants to go have fun and run.

“He’s nobody’s pet,” Moquett continued. “He shows up with his work boots and lets you do whatever you do that takes care of him. He’s just okay with chilling out at the back of his stall. He’s a very smart horse.”

Jockey Luis Saez, who previously rode Whitmore to a runner-up effort in 2019 Count Fleet behind Mitole, will return from post 2.

“A lot of riders have ridden Whitmore and a lot of riders have had success with him, we were happy we were able to snatch up Saez,” Moquett said.

Looking to become a Grade 1 winner at the Spa at ages 2, 3, and 4 is Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables’ Mind Control, who was third in the Vanderbilt last out.

Trained by Gregg Sacco, the 4-year-old son of Stay Thirsty was an upset winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful in September 2018 and went on to take the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens presented by Runhappy the following year at the Spa.

Since the Vanderbilt, Mind Control has trained forwardly for Sacco at his Monmouth Park base, recording a trio of breezes over the New Jersey oval. He recently went five eighths in 1:01.20 on August 22.

“He came out of the Vanderbilt in great shape,” Sacco said. “He had three works at Monmouth and each one was right on queue. We’re really happy where he’s at with his training and the way his attitude is going into the Forego.”

Mind Control was entered in last Saturday’s Grade 3 Phillip H. Iselin at Monmouth Park, but scratched in favor of the Forego.