Several notable horses worked over a fast track Wednesday morning at Oaklawn Park, including multiple stakes winner Whitmore for co-owner/trainer Ron Moquett, of Hot Springs.
Breezing for the first time since finishing second in the Grade 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, Whitmore covered a half-mile in :52 2-5 moments after the track opened. Whitmore is scheduled to make his 2019 debut in the $150,000 Hot Springs Stakes on March 9, the final major local prep for the Grade 3 $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 13. Whitmore swept both races in 2017 and 2018.
Also breezing for the first time this year for Moquett were multiple stakes-placed Petrov and Frosted Ice, a stakes-winning 3-year-old colt. Petrov went a half-mile in :50 4-5. Frosted Ice went a half-mile in :49 4-5.
"Very pleased with all three," Moquett said.
Moquett said he is targeting an allowance race for Petrov's comeback spot, with his major spring objective the inaugural $200,000 Oaklawn Mile for older horses on May 3.
Moquett said Frosted Ice could make his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 $1 million Rebel Stakes on March 16. Frosted Ice closed his 2-year-old campaign with a 6 1/4-length victory in the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for New York-breds on Sept. 21 at Belmont Park.
"Trying to get to the Rebel, but just trying to get him back," Moquett said. "Gave him a break. He's a big horse. He writes his own story."
The Rebel is the third and final major local prep for the Grade 1 $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 13.
Breezing after the break for trainer Mark Casse was 2018 Queen's Plate winner Wonder Gadot. A finalist for a Sovereign Award as Canada's top 3-year-old filly of 2018, Wonder Gadot went 5 furlongs in 1:01 1-5 under David Cohen.
In addition to beating males in the Queen's Plate, Wonder Gadot finished second in the Grade 1 $1 million Kentucky Oaks and Oaklawn's Grade 3 $400,000 Fantasy Stakes last year. Wonder Gadot is unraced since finishing ninth in the Grade 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.
Calumet Farm's Bravazo, who won an allowance race at Oaklawn before winning the Risen Star Stakes and competing in all three Triple Crown races, worked a half-mile in :49 Wednesday. He is scheduled to be Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas' first starter in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 30.
Grade 1 winner Sporting Chance recorded a 3-furlong bullet gate work of :34 4-5 Wednesday morning for Lukas, the colt's first published breeze this year. Sporting Chance ran twice last year at Oaklawn, finishing third in the Grade 3 $500,000 Southwest Stakes and fifth in the Rebel.
Trainer Larry Jones gave Super Steed the green light for Monday's Southwest Stakes after the son of Super Saver worked 5 furlongs in 1:01 4-5 shortly after the track opened under Terry Thompson. Super Steed finished seventh on Jan. 25 in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn's first major Arkansas Derby prep.
"Everything went well," Jones said of the work. "We're going to try again and see if we can pick up off that first day."
Jones said Thompson will have the mount for the 1 1/16-mile Southwest. Powerful Jan. 26 allowance winner Jersey Agenda, among several Southwest candidates for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, worked a half-mile in :50 3-5.
The track was rated fast for workouts Thursday morning. Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Amy's Challenge worked a half-mile in :48 after the renovation break for trainer Mac Robertson.
Sports on 02/15/2019