Handicapper's Corner: 2022 Whitmore Stakes (G3)

 Older Sprinters seeking first graded win in Whitmore Stakes

By: Laurie Ross, Pedigree Power

Formerly known as the Hot Springs Handicap, The $200,000 Grade 3 Whitmore Stakes was renamed in 2021 in honor the gelding who captured the race for four straight years, from 2017 to 2020. 

 

 With careful handling by trainer Ron Moquett, Whitmore raced at the highest levels for six years. However, the apex of his career came in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Sprint earning him year-end honors as Champion Sprinter.

Whitmore retired as an 8-year-old after making 43 starts and earning $4,502,350.

This year's Whitmore Stakes attracted nine older horses who will sprint six furlongs. Let's review the field.

 

Greeley and Ben (9-2) compiled a nine-race win streak last year and continued his winning ways this year with a trio of victories. In his previous start, the  Karl Broberg trainee bested Starter Allowance company by 1 3/4-lengths here, finishing up in 1:90.60. This is Greeley and Ben's first foray into graded competition; however, the 8-year-old gelding should be up to the task. Win contender.

A lightly raced 4-year-old with only seven career starts under his girth, Tulane Tryst (9-2) has won his last two starts by open lengths, including an impressive score against Allowance Optional Claiming class runners by 7 1/4-lengths at the Fairgrounds, getting six furlongs in 1:09.77. The  Cherie DeVaux trainee was off the board in his only stakes try in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens last year. However, he meets a softer group here and fired a recent four-furlong bullet work. Win contender.

Bob's Edge (5-2) has hit the board in all five starts at Oaklawn, including a 2 3/4-victory in the King Cotton Stakes in January. The knock against him is that he's never strung together back-to-back wins, and a third-place finish generally follows each victory. Additionally, he hit a career-best 100 speed rating in his last start. So I don't see a form reversal here. Exotics.

Hollis (3-1) has won three of his four starts at Oaklawn. He shook the rust off in the King Cotton Stakes, finishing a distant fifth behind Bob's Edge in his yearly debut, and returned to best Starter Allowance class runners by 4 1/4-lengths, handily beating runner-up No Shirt No Shoes. However, Hollis' weakness is a class issue. He's hit or miss at the listed stakes level, and his last stakes victory was over a year ago. Additionally, the John Ortiz trainee has a good/bad race cycle over the last year. Exotics.

Heart Rhythm (15-1) has hit the board in 13 of 15 career starts in the Allowance Optional Claiming ranks. He won and placed in both starts this year at Oaklawn, giving trainer Trisha Vance Duncan her first career victory. Duncan is the daughter David Vance, a 4-time Oaklawn leading trainer. Although his overall Brisnet speed ratings fit this group, Heart Rhythm is a need-the-lead type, and his late-pace figures are poor. Maybe he can hang on for a lower exotics placing.  

Kneedeepinsnow (8-1) is hit or miss against Allowance Optional Claiming types. In January, the Mike Maker trainee won his 2022 debut here but was a one-paced fourth against Greeley and Ben in the Stonerside Sprint at Sam Houston in his last start. Kneedeepinsnow had a little break in February and returned to the work tab March 7. He has run well off the layoff in the past, but the wins are now few and far between for this 6-year-old. Pass.

Royal Daaher (10-1) won his 2022 debut here by 1 1/4-lengths, beating Atoka and earning a lifetime best Brisnet speed rating in the process. The Wane Lukas trainee has hit the board in eight of 12 starts at Oaklawn in the Allowance Optional Claiming ranks; However, the 6-year-old has never strung together back-to-back wins, and he may regress off the 100 speed rating. Pass.

No Shirt No Shoes (12-1) has won two of eight attempts at Oaklawn. Allowance Optional Claiming class 5-year-old jumps into graded company after a 4 1/2-length loss to Hollis. Previously, the Doug Anderson trainee has regressed in his second start off the layoff. Pass.

 

Analysis

Greely and Ben doesn't need the lead, but he'll be close to the pace, along with Hollis, Heart Rhythm, and No Shirt No Shoes. Bob's Edge does his best work from the back of the pack. Tulane Twist will make a late run.

I'll go with age and experience over youth and optimism.

3. Greely and Ben (9-2)

7. Tulane Tryst (9-2)

2. Bob's Edge (5-2)

8. Heart Rhythm (15-1)