Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect), runner-up to Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft) in the GIII Southwest S. Feb. 15, had his first breeze since Saturday morning at Oaklawn Park, registering a bullet half-mile in :48.20. Breezing in company, as usual, about 20 minutes after the track opened, Whitmore worked inside of a stablemate beneath jockey Greta Kuntzweiler. He is expected to make his next appearance in the GII Rebel S. Mar. 19.
“Greta came back and said, 'I sat still and let him do what he wanted to do, pretty much,' ” trainer Ron Moquett said. “She said, 'I could have went :44, if I had moved.'”
Moquett said Whitmore could work again Friday or next Saturday. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. picks up the ride aboard Whitmore for the first time in the Rebel. Mike Smith had the mount in the Southwest.
Four other candidates for the Rebel turned in Saturday morning moves as well. Suddenbreakingnews went a half-mile in :51.20 for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel; American Dubai (E Dubai) earned the three-furlong bullet in :36.20; Mo for the Money (Uncle Mo), winner of an entry-level allowance Feb. 7, went five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.80 for trainer Tony Dutrow; and the Brad Cox-trained Dazzling Gem (Misremembered) went four furlongs before the break in :50 flat.
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