Whitmore Stakes (Grade 3)- $200.000 Purse
OP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
March 18, 2023

A field of ten have assembled for Saturday’s running of the inaugural Whitmore Stakes. It has been given a Grade 3 designation for this debut, as well as a $200.000 purse and will run for six furlongs on the dirt. Hopefully, we will be able to see this race have a long period of success within our game. Naturally, we can’t talk about past winners but instead the opportunity is there to hold the distinction of a graded race’s first edition. Here’s a quick look at those who’ll battle for that right!

#1- Blamethespeedparty (Martyparty, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Since being gelded, he’s only had one win in twelve starts, but finishing somewhere in the top four in higher priced graded races has allowed his earnings to approach $400.000 anyway. Lately, this is a horse that looks to come from off the pace but that might not the case here as the tactic from two back, the Grade 3 Mr Prospector, could be tried again.

#2- Carnoustie (Smokey Stover, ridden by Mar Garcia)- This Ye Charley gelding has had a great career, making over $1,300.000 and appearing in the BC twice. Four months ago, he was third in the BC Sprint, so he certainly still has it. He has not been back in a stake since, with the trainer instead opting for three high level open allowances. He didn’t win any of them but was within a length of victory in all of them.

#3- Plan To Wheel (Fractious, ridden by R E Eramia)- A winner of two of this last three races, including the Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes, and you can go back a little further to find two strong second place races in the OBrien and the Vosburgh, which are also Grade 2’s. It’s a little surprising to see that he never ran in the BC with those results. Last seen at SA, winning an open allowance, and it’s good to see him back at this level for the first time since late November.

#4- Cherokee Asset (Rock Creek, ridden by El Gonzalez)- Last month, he ran second in the $100.000 Pelican Stakes at TAM, coming from well off the pace to get that result. His last six races have seen him alternate wins with other finishes, a trend the trainer is hoping will continue here. There is a hint of inconsistency about this one, however, and with that I can’t trust him enough to make him one of picks.

#5- Flip A Coin Party (Threshold, ridden by E Maldonado)- Three back, Flip A Coin Party earned a 100 SRF in his victory at the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap at AQU. Afterwards, this gelding flipped his form, leading to no party. Last month was a struggle in the Grade 3 General George but we don’t need to give up on this one yet. Threshold would certainly appreciate a rebound right here.

#6- Bigmouth Raj (Night Rider Stables, ridden by R Santana Jr)- Last April, Night Rider Stables lost this one in a claimer for $7.500, but reacquired him, with a $9.000 claim three months later. He couldn’t have been any happier to get him back, running him in an N1X allowance at AQU which he won, then the $150.000 Hudson, for NY-breds that he also won. It’s impressive to see how this one has had a career rebirth and with that, he’ll make his graded debut.

#7- Crimson Sun (Riggins Racing, ridden by D E Centeno)- Riggins picked this one up in private sales for $50.000 in early February, and ran for his new trainer in the General George Stakes almost two weeks later. While Crimson Sun was better than Flip A Coin Party in that one, it was still a struggle for him. With a little more time to get familiar with him, Riggins sends him back out to the track hoping for a much better result.

#8- Gas Lighting (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by E Jaramillo)- Only once in Gas Lighting’s career has run less than a mile, and that three back at AQU, where he was fourth. Otherwise, he has been a router, including even making an appearance in the Travers last year. He’s lacked success doing that, though, so a change is certainly understood. It’ll be a true test to cut back in distance against a crowd like this.

#9- Wally (Royalty Stables, ridden by L Saez)- Here’s a horse that is running well, with three wins in his last four starts. The victories came consecutively in overnights, and after that there was nothing wrong with his second-place effort at GP six weeks ago. He’s not a stake newbie, but his results at this level have been inconsistent to say the least. That was long ago, and he’s a different horse now with this run of great form.

#10- Queens Commander (Angelos Stable, ridden by N Juarez)- Last to load into the gate is another horse that has been running well lately, with three wins in his last five. However, six weeks ago at AQU in the Toboggan was not one of those positive starts, and we’ll need to hope that is a throw out. I sense that it was, as his works are still very good right now, so for whatever reason he may just not have fired off that day. Look for better out of him here.

Prediction: 2-9-4-5

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES