Whitmore tunes up for Festival

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Racing Festival of the South at Oaklawn Park is fast approaching, with horses such as champion Whitmore gearing up for the meet’s richest run of stakes offerings.

Whitmore worked Saturday morning at Oaklawn, his base, in advance of an intended start in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap here April 10. Whitmore was in action shortly after the track opening for training and breezed a half-mile in 49.40 seconds. He worked in company and was situated along the rail under Greta Kuntzweiler. The move came following his runner-up finish in the $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes in his seasonal debut March 13 at Oaklawn.

“This was his first breeze back after his race and it was just to kind of stretch his legs and start pointing to the Count Fleet,” said Ron Moquett, who co-owns and trains Whitmore.

Moquett said Whitmore is scheduled for one more work ahead of the Count Fleet, a race the horse has won a record three times. Whitmore won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November and in his one start since was second by a neck in the Hot Springs.

The Racing Festival will be spread over three consecutive Saturdays this year in a new twist. In the past, it had comprised the final week of racing, or had been held on back-to-back weekends. But this season the action starts Saturday with the running of the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy, a points race for the Kentucky Oaks, and the $200,000 Purple Martin, to be led by Windmill.

Windmill worked five-eighths in a bullet 59.40 seconds on Sunday at Oaklawn.

The Fantasy drew seven fillies, with the 1 1/16-mile race to go as the 11th on a 12-race card. First post is 12:30 p.m. Central. The Fantasy field from the rail with riders is: West Side Girl, Francisco Arrieta; Ava’s Grace, David Cohen; Sylvia Q, Martin Garcia; Coach, Fernando De La Cruz; Take Charge Lorin, David Cabrera; Sun Path, Joe Talamo; and Pauline’s Pearl, Ricardo Santana Jr. The winner will earn 100 points for the Kentucky Oaks.

The Purple Martin for 3-yearold fillies at six furlongs also was drawn Sunday. It goes as the sixth race on the Saturday card. The field from the rail is Devilish Wit, Arrieta; Windmill, Talamo; Abrogate, Santana; Southern Grayce, Fernando De La Cruz; and Joyful Cadence, Cabrera.

The second weekend of the Festival is April 10, when four stakes will be contested on a card featuring the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby. The Count Fleet, $400,000 Oaklawn Mile, and the $250,000 Carousel for fillies and mares at six furlongs are all part of Arkansas Derby Day.

The final weekend of the Festival is April 17, with the running of the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap for fillies and mares and the Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap. It will be the first seven-figure running for each of those races, lifting Oaklawn to a track-record four $1 million races this meet, with the others being the Arkansas Derby and Rebel.