Trainer Ron Moquett and owner Harry Rosenblum, who teamed up to win last year's GIII Southwest S. with Far Right (Notional), will be represented in next Monday's renewal of the 1 1/16-mile race by two-time winner Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect). Whitmore worked in company with two stablemates, including Far Right, Monday at Oaklawn. The gelding went five furlongs in 1:00.60.
“The work was a maintenance breeze for Far Right and a question-asking breeze for Whitmore,” Moquett, who is also co-owner of the sophomore, said. “It was just a typical maintenance deal. Very proud of them. You've got to be excited about the works and, thank goodness, all my horses worked good today.”
Far Right, nominated to Saturday's Essex H., was credited with a half-mile work in :47.60 and the third stablemate, 3-year-old maiden How About You Dude (First Dude) received :48.
A 7 1/4-length debut winner at Churchill Downs last November, Whitmore was a well-beaten fifth in the Nov. 21 GIII Delta Jackpot S. Adding blinkers for his 3-year-old debut, the chestnut was a sharp 3 1/4-length winner in a six-furlong optional claimer at Oaklawn Jan. 16.
Also working Monday at Oaklawn for the Southwest, Zayat Stables' Z Royal (Eskendereya) went five furlongs in 1:01.00 for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The chestnut colt, a maiden winner at Churchill Downs last November, is coming off a fifth-place effort in the Jan. 16 GIII LeComte S. Samuel Henderson's Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft), a narrowly beaten runner-up in the Dec. 13 Sprinboard Mile S., worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 for trainer Donnie Von Hemel and Torrontes (Macho Uno) went the same distance in 1:02.20 for trainer Kellyn Gorder.
Others considered likely for the Southwest are: Discreetness (Discreet Cat), Collected (City Zip), Gordy Florida (Cactus Ridge), Synchrony (Tapit), Luna de Loco (Malibu Moon), Bird of Trey (Birdstone), Cutacorner (Even the Score) and American Dubai (E Dubai).
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