'More' to Come from Moquett

For trainer Ron Moquett, the path to the 2016 GI Kentucky Derby begins through his own backyard in Monday's GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park.

The 44-year-old native of Arkansas shoots for his second straight success in the 1 1/16-miles President's Day feature with the lightly raced Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect), a visually impressive winner of two of his three career trips to the post.

“It's no secret that you always want to show out at home,” Moquett commented. “I may look across the grandstand on any given day and see someone that I went to highschool with. And when I say I live near Oaklawn Park, I mean, I can look out my kitchen window and watch the tractors.”

Moquett added with a laugh, “When the horses go by in a race, it's like a scene from Jurassic Park where you can see the ripples on a glass of water.”

The former employee of conditioner Bernie Flint, on his own since 1997, will have more on the line than the standard 10% training commission in the Southwest. Moquett's Southern Spring Stables group owns a 50% interest in Whitmore, an explosive optional claiming winner in his sophomore bow after getting pinched at the start with blinkers added in Hot Springs most recently Jan. 16. Robert LaPenta and Harry Rosenblum, also co-owners of last term's Southwest hero Far Right (Notional), bought into the chestnut after he zig-zagged his way home by 7 1/4 lengths in his Churchill debut Nov. 6. The first foal from the unraced Scat Daddy mare Melody's Spirit was acquired privately by Southern Springs from breeder John Liviakis.

“It's a way for me to get people invested in our sport and be able to teach them without having them get overwhelmed in their first time or two in the business,” Moquett explained of his partnerships. “It's kind of like training wheels for owners. You get to see a bill and go through the process and get to experience what it's like to own a racehorse.”

He continued, “I've had everybody from people that were burned out of the game and were wanting to just be associated with it a little bit to people who later moved on and ended up owning 12 horses of their own. I do have some friends and family involved and that kind of stuff, but the group was created with the idea to introduce or re-involve people in our awesome sport. We've been very fortunate so far.”

In addition to his pair of aforementioned tallies going six furlongs, the Kentucky-bred Whitmore also finished a disappointing fifth while making his two-turn bow in the GIII Delta Downs Jackpot S. Nov. 21. A muddy track and/or quick turnaround seem like valid excuses for that no-show at 7-1, right?

“Trainer error–that's what it was,” Moquett replied. “I always give the horse credit and I try to deflect the blame. If I had prepared the horse properly, then he'd be ready for an off track, two turns, etc. His job is to do what he's prepared to do, and obviously he wasn't prepared.”

He continued, “All the indications are that he'll relish the stretch out [in distance]. It's all about getting him to do what the rider wants. He's strong minded, but super athletic, too. Hopefully, they get along and get a nice trip.”

A year that saw Moquett's stable register more than a career- high $2.2 million in earnings–his fourth straight season of having that number reach seven figures–it was also the operation's first representative in the starting gate on the First Saturday in May. While it was an “honor” to saddle the GI Arkansas Derby runner-up Far Right to an unplaced finish behind the subsequent Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), Moquett–who trained Seek Gold (Touch Gold) to a monumental 91-1 upset in the 2006 GI Stephen Foster H. beneath the Twin Spires–wasn't exactly satisfied with just showing up, either.

“Now that we know how to get there, I want to get there again,” said Moquett, who has 35 horses in training. “And I want to have a better showing. Now, it's all about improving. And I'm confident we will when we get the chance again.”

With another big effort from Whitmore this weekend, Moquett may be back in Louisville sooner than he thinks.