Oaklawn-loving Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) stepped up to the plate and easily defeated one of the toughest fields he’s faced in winning his third $350,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3).
The 3-1 favorite settled into fifth place as Bobby’s Wicked One and Share the Upside set the early pace through fractions of : 21 3/5 and :44 3/5 for the first half-mile. Whitmore began his move around the turn from home, drew clear in mid-stretch and had plenty left to hold off the late-running Flagstaff and Manny Wah. The winning time was 1:08 4/5 for six furlongs over a fast track.
“Hats off to (trainer) Ron Moquett,” jockey Joe Talamo said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to ride him three straight times now and each time he’s gotten stronger. That’s a testament to his conditioning. It was an interesting setup and I didn’t expect to get to the lead as early as I did. I had the perfect spot down the backstretch. What a racehorse. He doesn’t feel like a 7-year-old.”
The victory pushed Whitmore’s earnings over the $3 million mark to $3,146,350 and he has now won 14 races for owners Southern Springs Stables, Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners LLC. He returned $8.20, $4.20 and $3.
“I’m proud for him,” Moquett said. “I’m noticing lately people saying, ‘The great’ and ‘legendary.’ People that are saying that don’t throw around those words. To me, he’s been that. But it’s so cool to see this horse that has so many people that love him and follow him to be able to do what he does and to make a lot of people that happy. I wanted him to be on the inside, but he broke so well that he (Joe Talamo) had him in a position where he could … and Whitmore’s always going to argue with whatever you want. He just has that personality. He argues all the time. He has tried to get out. Sometimes, he tries to get in. But, he really just wants to mess with the rider. The jockey just took hold and let him do what he wanted to do. Then, whenever you ask him, he did what he’s supposed to do. It was so awesome.”
Whitmore also won the Count Fleet in 2017 and 2018. He was second last year to eventual champion Mitole.
Ce Ce Rides to Apple Blossom Victory
Bo Hirsch, LLC’s lightly raced Ce Ce demonstrated she could eventually join the long list of champion females that have won Oaklawn’s signature race for older fillies and mares when she overcame post position 14 to win Saturday’s $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) by a head over Ollie’s Candy.
Ce Ce broke sharply and settled off the pace in fifth, while Ollie’s Candy took advantage of her rail position to battle Cookie Dough for the early lead through an opening quarter in :22 1/5. Ollie’s Candy had full control after a half-mile in a crisp :45 3/5 and continued to hold the advantage to just before the wire when Ce Ce got up to win the photo finish in a final time of 1:43 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast track. Point of Honor, who got shuffled back at the start, came from last to get third.
“That was great,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “It was little hard for me to see through the shadows and stuff. I couldn’t tell if she was actually gaining on horses or what. They were rolling up front. We were in a great spot. That was a tough one (drawing post 14). Unfortunately, the horses I thought we had to beat were all directly inside of us and I thought best laid plans would have been if Serengeti Empress would go ahead and be the controlling speed. Things didn’t work out that way, obviously. The complexion of the race totally changed after that. We were able to sit in a perfect spot, three to four lengths off of them. I’m OK with it now. Had the photo been the other way, I probably wouldn’t have been OK with it.”
Street Band finished fourth and was followed by Saracosa, Horologist, Go Google Yourself, Lady Apple, Awe Emma, Queen Nekia, 2-1 favorite Serengeti Empress, Come Dancing, Coldwater and Cookie Dough.
Ce Ce, a 4-year-old homebred filly by Elusive Quality, improved her record to four wins from six starts and has now won $726,600. She returned $9.80, $5.80 and $4.60 as the 7-2 second choice.
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