Whitmore didn't run on Preakness Day one year ago after a 19th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Ron Moquett had other plans for the gelded son of Pleasantly Perfect, specifically turning him back to sprint races. It appears to be the right decision.
Whitmore improved his record to 7 for 7 in races no longer than 6½ furlongs Saturday, rallying from 5 lengths back in the final quarter mile to win the Grade III Maryland Sprint Stakes on the Preakness under card.
The victory was the fifth in a row for Whitmore since returning from a seven-month layoff Dec. 3 at Aqueduct in New York.
Whitmore had not raced since a 3¾-length victory in the Grade III Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 15, but he carried his form to Maryland, as did April 13 Bachelor Stakes winner Recruiting Ready, who won the seventh race on the Preakness under card, the $200,000 Chick Lang at 6 furlongs.
Whitmore didn't follow his normal pattern of sitting just off the leaders and taking command on the far turn.
He was eased back significantly by jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. after a quick start, then dropped from third to fifth at the half, off A. P. Indian's opening fractions of :22.97 and :45.67.
Santana shifted Whitmore to the outside as the field turned for home, and Whitmore found his best stride in the final furlong while out in the middle of a drying-out surface. His final time was 1:09.90 on a track listed as good.
"I have a lot of confidence in Ricardo, and I told him that I thought he was on the best horse and to ride him with confidence," Moquett said. "And if that means to do something a little out of the ordinary, then feel free to do it. I know how he finishes. He closes like a freight train."
"He'll run in any position you put him in -- in front or off the pace. He broke good and just sat back comfortably," Santana said. "The second they cleared, he broke away running. He was getting out when dirt was hitting him in the face a little bit, but I had confidence in him. As soon as I asked him, he started running."
Whitmore -- a winner of 7 of 11 career starts with $966,00 in earnings for Southern Springs Stables, Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners -- is being pointed to the Breeders' Cup sprint in November, Moquett said.
"We know there are a lot of good horses in this division," Moquett said. "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. We're going to race back to Louisville and talk about what might be next."
Information for this article was contributed by The Associated Press and bloodhorse.com.
Sports on 05/21/2017