Whitmore rallies, keeps sprint record perfect

After winning three times at Oaklawn Park in spectacular fashion, Whitmore passed the class test out of town.

The 4-year-old gelding remained unbeaten as a sprinter with a half-length victory over multiple Grade 1 winner A.P. Indian in the Grade 3 $150,000 Maryland Sprint Stakes on the Preakness undercard Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

The 6-5 favorite, Whitmore rallied from fourth in the stretch under a strong ride by Ricardo Santana Jr. Carrying 124 pounds, 6 more than each of his rivals, the Pleasantly Perfect gelding clocked six furlongs in 1:09.90 over a good-rated surface. He paid $4.40, $2.80 and $2.40.

"We can't use mud as an excuse or weight as an excuse any more," said trainer and co-owner Ron Moquett. "I was actually saying it was going to take close to a track record to win this. But he's a fast horse, and he was running against some very fast horses."

A.P. Indian, a 7-year-old son of Indian Charlie, went off as 8-5 second choice and finished second by a head over 30-1 longshot Awesome Banner after setting the pace.

"I thought he ran a good race. I'm not sure that he wanted to be in front like that," said A.P. Indian trainer Arnaud Delacour. "Obviously, the winner is a really nice horse and came with a huge run at the end. I do think this division is really tough this year."

Whitmore has won five in a row sprinting, his last defeat coming in the 2016 Kentucky Derby. Owned by Moquett in partnership with Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners, Whitmore won the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap and listed Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn, bettering 1:09 for six furlongs in all three starts.

With a 7-2-1 record, Whitmore has earned $967,000 from 12 starts. His long-range goal is the Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Del Mar in Southern California.

"We know there are a lot of good horses in this division," said Moquett. "And if it means sidestepping a couple of them. ... I mean, we're a gelding. Our breeding future is secure. We're going to try and put some money in our account and make it easy and fun for him."

* A horse with solid Maryland connections won a Preakness Day stake at Pimlico, where the colt's racing career began last year.

Coming off a stakes victory at Oaklawn, Recruiting Ready led from gate to wire in Saturday's $200,000 Chick Lang. Clocking six furlongs in 1:10.35 over a muddy surface, the Algorithms colt finished 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Aquamarine with 6-5 favorite and multiple stakes winner Three Rules third. He paid $7.40 as the second betting choice.

"He gave me a nice kick at the top of the stretch and was very strong today," jockey Horacio Karamanos said after his third win on the card. "He's a really good horse who ran against some of the best in the country last year. We are 3-for-3 together, so I think we're a good match."

Recruiting Ready came off an April 13 victory in Oaklawn's Bachelor, Saturday's win marking his third in a row since a brief rest early in his 3-year-old campaign.

"He's learning to run now. He settles a little bit and he's making that run at the end," said trainer Horacio DePaz. "We will definitely keep him sprinting for now."

Recruiting Ready is owned by Sagamore Farm in Reistertown, Md., a 20-minute drive from Pimlico, and the home of 1953 Preakness winner Native Dancer and other champions. Sagamore was purchased by Under Armour founder Kevin Plank in 2007.

"It's a big significance for myself because I just started training," said DePaz, whose first victories at Keeneland and Oaklawn came six days apart in April. "Having Kevin and being in Baltimore here, it means a lot for us to be able to win a race like this for him."

Sports on 05/21/2017

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