A trio of locally based sophomores took to the Oaklawn main track to register their final workouts ahead of next Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby.
Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect), most recently second to Cupid (Tapit) in the GII Rebel S. Mar. 19, worked in the company of his stablemate Regulatory (Warrior's Reward) and covered a half-mile in :48.80 under the watchful eye of Hot Springs's Ron Moquett. The conditioner elected to send out the 3-year-old gelding just after the track opened as opposed to the 15-minute window reserved for horses participating in the Racing Festival of the South.
“It was the cliche work,” Moquett said. “Perfect. Exactly what we needed.”
Off the board just once in his five career starts, Whitmore, owned by Bob LaPenta, Harry Rosenblum and Southern Springs Stables, took a six-furlong allowance Jan. 16 and was runner-up to Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft) in the GIII Southwest S. Feb. 15 ahead of his Rebel effort.
Suddenbreakingnews, who defeated Whitmore by 2 3/4 lengths in the Southwest before closing off well to finish a sneaky-good fifth in the Rebel, breezed a half in :48.40 for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel, while Smarty Jones S. hero Discreetness (Discreet Cat) blew out three-eighths of a mile from the gate in :36.40.
“I just want to put him on his toes,” trainer Jinks Fires said before the Discreetness work. “He needs to break better.”
Among those considered possible for the Arkansas Derby is Dazzling Gem (Misremembered). Perfect in two appearances in Hot Springs, the bay exits a highly creditable third to Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 26. He went four furlongs in a steady :49.40. Tisdale (Friesan Fire, 4f, :49.60) and Cutacorner (Even the Score, 5f, 1:01.20) also remain under consideration for the $1-million Kentucky Derby prep.
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