By Joe Bianca
After running 19th of 20 in the GI Kentucky Derby last May and having to be shelved for almost seven months, it was fair to question what the future was for Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect). Five wins later, however, the chestnut has reinvented himself as the country's preeminent dirt sprinter, and he will head to post as a significant favorite in Friday's GII True North S. at Belmont.
Returning with a workmanlike allowance/optional claiming win Dec. 3 at Aqueduct, the gelding swept three outings at trainer Ron Moquett's Oaklawn base over the winter, including a dominant score in the GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. Apr. 15. Taking a while to get going in the GIII Maryland Sprint S. May 20 at Pimlico, Whitmore unleashed a strong kick in the final furlong to get up late for his fifth consecutive triumph.
“As he keeps mining his craft and improving and maturing, we're going to have a lot of fun with him,” Moquett told the NYRA notes team. “He's competitive going long, but he's more superior going short.”
The one-two finishers from the May 7 Diablo S. here appear to be the main dangers. Hard-knocking 7-year-old gelding Stallwalkin' Dude (City Place) showed no rust followed a sixth-place run in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, rallying to victory after a slow start in the Diablo to for his seventh stakes tally. Noholdingback Bear (Put It Back), victor of the GIII Gallant Bob S. last fall, was second in the Diablo in his first start as a 4-year-old and first try since transferring from the Mike DePaulo barn to Brian Lynch's outfit.
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