By Joe Bianca
In the spring, it appeared as though Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) was on his way to the top of the sprint division and a possible Eclipse Award after reeling off five straight victories since being turned back from a try at the Triple Crown trail in 2016. Two third-place efforts as the heavy favorite later, however, the chestnut is just looking to regroup and punch his ticket to the GI TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint in the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S. at Keeneland.
A romping winner of the Hot Springs S. and GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. at Oaklawn, Whitmore scored again in the GIII Maryland Sprint S. May 20 at Pimlico and went postward at a tick over even-money in the GII True North S. June 9 at Belmont. Not showing his usual early lick, the gelding had a mild run and was beaten 6 1/4 lengths. After getting the summer off, he was made a 1-2 chalk in the GIII DeFrancis Memorial Dash S. Sept. 16 and again only managed to fill out the trifecta.
PJG Stable's Favorite Tale (Tale of the Cat) finished third at over 23-1 on this track in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Sprint, but has started only three times since then, recently coming off of a near 18-month layoff to run second in the Pennsylvania-bred Banjo Picker Sprint S. Sept. 2 at Parx. The bay is arguably the horse to beat on his best form, but spots recency to the rest of this 11-horse field.
Katherine G. Ball's Limousine Liberal (Successful Appeal) just missed in this event last year when second by a nose to A. P. Indian (Indian Charlie), leader of the sprint division at that time. The dark bay notched victories in the GII Churchill Downs S. and GIII Aristedes S. this spring, but disappointed when third as the favorite in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. last out July 29 at Saratoga.
Harry T. Rosenblum and Robert V. LaPenta's 'TDN Rising Star' Uncontested (Tiz Wonderful) returns to Lexington for the first time since dominating his debut at Keeneland last October to earn his Rising Star nod. Sent on the Derby trail after a dominant score in the Smarty Jones S. in January, the dark bay went winless in his next four starts before getting back on track in a high-priced Churchill optional claimer Sept. 17.
Amerman Racing Stables' Threefiveindia (Street Hero) looks for his first graded stakes score. Third in the GIII Gallant Bob S. and second in the GIII Bold Ruler H. as a sophomore, the chestnut went winless in his next four starts, but appears to be rounding back into form, having easily annexed a Saratoga optional claimer when last seen Aug. 26.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
