Belmont Sprint Draws Six Looking For Breeders’ Cup Sprint Berth

Belmont Feature a “Win and You’re In” Qualifier

by Margaret Ransom

Saturday’s $350,000 Belmont Sprint Championship (GII), a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” race offering all fees paid to the winner for the Breeder’s Cup Sprint (GI) in November at Churchill Downs, is just one of five stakes races offered on the fifth annual Stars & Stripes Festival card at Belmont Park, joining the $1.2 million Belmont Derby Invitational (GIT), $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational (GIT), $300,000 Dwyer Stakes (GIII) and the $700,000 Suburban Handicap (GII).

Whitmore makes his first start since a runner-up finish three weeks ago in the True North Stakes (GII) over this track. The Count Fleet Stakes (GIII) winner has had a bit of an up-and-down season this year after winning three graded stakes in 2017. While he’s been most successful at three-quarters of a mile, Whitmore has raced well around two turns, so Saturday’s seven furlongs shouldn’t be too much of a concern. He’s logged two workouts since his last and trainer Ron Moquett said Whitmore is in top form.

“He’s doing very well,” Moquett said. “He came back very happy out of the True North and has been working well [at Churchill]. He shipped into… (more)