The prospect of stormy weather Sunday afternoon led trainer and co-owner Ron Moquett to alter plans slightly, as the conditioner sent out Whitmore (Pleasant Colony) for his final serious piece of work ahead of Saturday's GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Park.
Breezing in the company of 2015 GIII Southwest S. winner and GI Arkansas Derby runner-up Far Right (Notional), Whitmore covered a half-mile in :51 flat and galloped out five furlongs in 1:04.
“With the weather coming in, I thought it would be best,” said Moquett of Whitmore, who was second to the impressive Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft) in this year's Southwest S. Feb. 15. “It worked out fine.”
The stable could also be represented in the Rebel by Tisdale (Friesan Fire), who has run well in two starts over the local strip during the meet, including a neck success when trying the Rebel distance of 1 1/16 miles for the first time Feb. 6.
“If it wasn't for everybody bringing in horses from everywhere, then I would wait and find another spot,” Moquett said. “If the gates are going to be filled full, with 14 horses, then two of them might as well be ours.”
Should Tisdale pass the Rebel, Moquett said races like the Northern Spur S. or the GIII Coolmore Lexington S. would be considered. Both those races are scheduled for Apr. 16.
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