# Whitmore Stakes

The Whitmore Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older at a distance of six furlongs on the dirt run annually in March at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The event currently offers a purse of $250,000.

## History

The February 28, 1944 inaugural running of the event as the Hot Springs Purse at six furlongs was run on a heavy track. The race was won by Momo Flag, owned and trained by Adelard Lamoureux and ridden by Cuban jockey Jorge Alfonso. On November 15, 1944, Momo Flag showed he was far more than just a sprinter when he won the Exterminator Handicap at Pimlico Race Course over the marathon distance of two miles and 70 yards. Remarkably, after that grueling distance to the finish line, Momo Flag only beat Miss Ruth McClanaghan's Harford by a nose. The following year the event was run in early December as the Hot Springs Handicap for two-year-olds over a distance of one mile and seventy yards. The event was idle for the next two calendar years.

### For three-year-olds (1948–74)

In 1948, when the event was resumed the Oaklawn Park administration set the conditions of the event for three-year-olds only at a distance of six furlongs. The event was scheduled earlier in the Oaklawn Park season and it became a preparatory race for the Arkansas Derby. Enforcer who finished second to Cotton Joe in the 1948 renewal also finished second in the Arkansas Derby.
In 1951, the event was scheduled to be run on Saturday, March 3 but there were not enough entries to fill the event so the track administration scheduled an event that was called the Mountain Valley Allowance for a much lower purse of $1,500. Eleven three-year-olds entered for this event.
The first horse to win the Hot Springs Handicap and then go on to win the Arkansas Derby was Mrs. Elizabeth Muckler's Johns Chic who won the double in 1956. In 1965 Earl Allen's Swift Ruler would also win the Hot Springs Handicap, the Rebel Stakes (introduced for three-year-olds in 1961) and the Arkansas Derby.
In 1966 the event was run at a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs for the only time. In 1967 Dr. Keith Knapp's Roman K. set a new track record for the six furlongs distance of 1:09 flat defeating seven other three-year-olds.
As a Three-Year-Old handicap five fillies won the event. The most successful of the fillies was the 1957 winner Lori El. She was a gallant third in the Arkansas Derby and later in May won the Kentucky Oaks.
In 1974 the event was run for the last time as a Three-Year-Old only event and the winner, J. R.'s Pet won by a seven-length margin which continues to date to be the record winning margin. J. R.'s Pet also went on to win the Arkansas Derby.

### Open era (1975 onwards)

With the creation of new events for three-year-olds, Rebel Stakes in 1961 and the Southwest Stakes in 1968 over six furlongs, Oaklawn Park administration changed the condition of the event in 1975 to three-year-olds and older. Three years later in 1978 the event would omit three-year-olds all together as the conditions for the event became four-year-olds and older.
In 1986 the distance of the event was increased to one mile, but this only lasted for three years. In 1988 the conditions of the event were changed from a handicap to a stakes event with allowances and the name changed to the Hot Springs Stakes.
Wilbur M. Giles' gelding E J Harley won the race in three consecutive years (1998, 1999, 2000). The 2014 winner Work All Week went on to win that year's Breeders' Cup Sprint and would be voted American Champion Sprint Horse.
The event encountered its third dead heat result in 2009, thirty years after the first dead heat which took place in 1979.
With increased revenue from the racino the administration of the track in 2017 began increasing the purse offered for the event. In 2017 the event offered $125,000 and by 2021 an attractive purse of $200,000 was up for grabs. This increase in stakes started to attract much more accomplished sprinters such as Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and US Champion Sprint Horse, Whitmore. In September 2021, Oaklawn Park announced that the Hot Springs Stakes would be renamed to the Whitmore Stakes, after retired thoroughbred sprinter Whitmore. Owned by the partnership group of Robert LaPenta, trainer Ron Moquett and Head of Plains Partners, Whitmore broke E J Harley's record with four consecutive Hot Springs Stakes wins between 2017 and 2020.
In 2022 the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the classification of the event after 75 runnings to Grade III.

## Records

Speed record:
* 6 furlongs: 1:08.40 – Double Ready (1984)
Margins:
* 7 lengths – J. R.'s Pet (1974)
Most wins:
* 4 – Whitmore (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Most wins by an owner:
* 4 – Robert V. LaPenta & Head of Plains Partners (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 – Pat Day (1986, 1991, 1992, 1995)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 5 – Robert E. Holthus (1989, 1991, 1992, 2002, 2004)
* 5 – Ron Moquett (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| Whitmore Stakes |||||||||||
| 2024 | Jaxon Traveler | 6 | Flavien Prat | Steven M. Asmussen | West Point Thoroughbreds | 6 furlongs | 1:10.04 | $250,000 | III | |
| 2023 | Tejano Twist | 4 | Francisco Arrieta | Chris Hartman | JD Thoroughbreds & Joey Keith Davis | 6 furlongs | 1:09.27 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2022 | Bob's Edge | 4 | Luis S. Quinonez | J. Larry Jones | Michael, Patricia & Taylor, Freeny & Jennifer Grayson | 6 furlongs | 1:09.42 | $200,000 | III | |
| Hot Spring Stakes |||||||||||
| 2021 | C Z Rocket | 7 | Florent Geroux | Peter L. Miller | Madaket Stables, Gary Barber & Tom Kagele | 6 furlongs | 1:09.04 | $200,000 | Listed | |
| 2020 | Whitmore | 7 | Joseph Talamo | Ron Moquett | Robert V. LaPenta, Southern Springs Stables & Head of Plains Partners | 6 furlongs | 1:08.54 | $147,000 | Listed | |
| 2019 | Whitmore | 6 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Ron Moquett | Robert V. LaPenta, Southern Springs Stables & Head of Plains Partners | 6 furlongs | 1:09.39 | $146,250 | Listed | |
| 2018 | Whitmore | 5 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Ron Moquett | Robert V. LaPenta, Southern Springs Stables & Head of Plains Partners | 6 furlongs | 1:08.57 | $125,000 | Listed | |
| 2017 | Whitmore | 4 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Ron Moquett | Robert V. LaPenta, Harry T. Rosenblum & Head of Plains Partners | 6 furlongs | 1:08.72 | $125,000 | Listed | |
| 2016 | Subtle Indian | 4 | Ramon Vazquez | Robertino Diodoro | Mercedes Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:09.28 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 2015 | Gentlemen's Bet | 6 | Ramon Vazquez | Ron Moquett | Harry T. Rosenblum | 6 furlongs | 1:09.67 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 2014 | Work All Week | 5 | Christopher A. Emigh | Roger Brueggemann | Midwest Thoroughbreds | 6 furlongs | 1:09.84 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 2013 | Laurie's Rocket | 4 | Victor Lebron | Willis D. Horton | D. Wayne Lukas | 6 furlongs | 1:11.14 | $73,500 | Listed | |
| 2012 | City Sage | 4 | Calvin H. Borel | Kelly Von Hemel | William J. Sims | 6 furlongs | 1:10.36 | $75,000 | Listed | |
| 2011 | Chief of Affairs | 6 | M. Clifton Berry | Randy L. Morse | Wayne Sanders & Larry Hirsch | 6 furlongs | 1:08.56 | $73,500 | | |
| 2010 | Country Day | 4 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Steve Margolis | Bertram, Elaine & Richard Klein | 6 furlongs | 1:09.52 | $60,000 | | |
| 2009 | Red Hot N Gold | 5 | Eusebio Razo Jr. | Kelly Von Hemel | RPM Thoroughbreds | 6 furlongs | 1:09.58 | $50,000 | | Dead heat |
| 2009 | Silver Edition | 4 | Terry Thompson | D. Wayne Lukas | Thomas F. Van Meter II & Phillip Maloof | 6 furlongs | 1:09.58 | $50,000 | | Dead heat |
| 2008 | Junior College | 6 | Eusebio Razo Jr. | Anthony Reinstedler | Mjaka Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:09.85 | $50,000 | | |
| 2007 | Junior College | 5 | John Jacinto | Anthony Reinstedler | Mjaka Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:10.05 | $50,000 | | |
| 2006 | That Tat | 8 | M. Clifton Berry | Cole Norman | Ken Murphy Thoroughbreds | 6 furlongs | 1:10.47 | $50,000 | | |
| 2005 | That Tat | 7 | Jamie Theriot | Cole Norman | Ken Murphy Thoroughbreds | 6 furlongs | 1:10.23 | $49,000 | | |
| 2004 | Skeet | 4 | John McKee | Robert E. Holthus | Fly Racing | 6 furlongs | 1:09.22 | $49,000 | | |
| 2003 | Honor Me | 4 | Rodney Trader | Stanley Roberts | Hwy 1 Racing Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:09.82 | $50,000 | | |
| 2002 | Beau's Town | 4 | Anthony Lovato | Cole Norman | David J. Hulkewicz | 6 furlongs | 1:09.14 | $50,000 | | Dead heat |
| 2002 | Kings Command | 5 | Luis S. Quinonez | Robert E. Holthus | Eugene L. Grando | 6 furlongs | 1:09.14 | $50,000 | | Dead heat |
| 2001 | Bidis | 4 | Joseph C. Judice | Jesse N. Wigginton | Ross Harris | 6 furlongs | 1:10.09 | $50,000 | Listed | |
| 2000 | E J Harley | 8 | James Lopez | David R. Vance | Wilbur M. Giles | 6 furlongs | 1:09.32 | $50,000 | Listed | |
| 1999 | E J Harley | 7 | James Lopez | David R. Vance | Wilbur M. Giles | 6 furlongs | 1:11.07 | $50,000 | Listed | |
| 1998 | E J Harley | 6 | James Lopez | David R. Vance | Wilbur M. Giles | 6 furlongs | 1:10.37 | $56,000 | Listed | |
| 1997 | Virtuous Regent | 6 | Jose Valdivia Jr. | Randy Morse | Michael P. Cloonan | 6 furlongs | 1:10.07 | $54,500 | Listed | |
| 1996 | Roythelittleone | 4 | Timothy Doocy | P. Noel Hickey | Kenny P. Smith | 6 furlongs | 1:10.00 | $53,750 | Listed | |
| 1995 | Groovy Jet | 4 | Pat Day | Morris Nicks | Don Eberts | 6 furlongs | 1:10.35 | $59,750 | Listed | |
| 1994 | Honor the Hero | 6 | Garrett K. Gomez | Doug Oliver | Allan Burdick, Arnulf & Rebecca Ueland | 6 furlongs | 1:09.68 | $56,250 | Listed | |
| 1993 | Callide Valley | 5 | Shane Romero | Orin J. Glass Jr. | Mary & Gary West | 6 furlongs | 1:09.18 | $56,500 | Listed | |
| 1992 | Potentiality | 6 | Pat Day | Robert E. Holthus | Halford E. Sutton & Daniel Jones | 6 furlongs | 1:11.08 | $57,500 | Listed | |
| 1991 | Overpeer (CAN) | 7 | Pat Day | Robert E. Holthus | Halford E. Sutton & Daniel Jones | 6 furlongs | 1:08.98 | $56,400 | Listed | |
| 1990 | Forli Light | 4 | David Guillory | Larry Robideaux Jr. | David Beard | 6 furlongs | 1:09.40 | $61,350 | | |
| 1989 | Proper Reality | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert E. Holthus | Mrs. James A. Winn | 6 furlongs | 1:09.20 | $60,750 | | |
| 1988 | Wayne's Crane | 4 | Donald L. Howard | Steve Chiasson | Kay & John DiPalma | 1 mile | 1:35.00 | $58,050 | | |
| Hot Springs Handicap |||||||||||
| 1987 | § Swingin Sway | 4 | Donald Howard | Jack H. Gardes | Jack H. Gardes & Harry Rosenblum | 1 mile | 1:37.20 | $61,900 | | |
| 1986 | Lucky North | 5 | Pat Day | William I. Mott | John A. Franks (Lessee) | 1 mile | 1:38.20 | $61,500 | | |
| 1985 | Taylor's Special | 4 | Randy Romero | William I. Mott | William F. Lucas | 6 furlongs | 1:09.60 | $56,500 | | |
| 1984 | Double Ready | 4 | Kerwin D. Clark | Randy C. Reed | R. B. Oliver | 6 furlongs | 1:08.40 | $50,000 | | |
| 1983 | Dave's Friend | 8 | Larry Snyder | Jack C. Van Berg | John A. Franks | 6 furlongs | 1:11.20 | $50,000 | | |
| 1982 | Skate | 6 | Kathleen Moore | James R. Garroutte | Pamela Kuehne | 6 furlongs | 1:11.80 | $50,000 | | |
| 1981 | † J. Burns | 5 | Darrell Haire | J. Bert Sonnier | Jer Ed Farms | 6 furlongs | 1:12.60 | $50,000 | | |
| 1980 | Braze And Bold | 5 | John Lively | Louis Brandt | Red Socks | 6 furlongs | 1:11.00 | $50,000 | | |
| 1979 | Cheyenne Nation | 5 | Larry Melancon | Louis Brandt | Red Socks | 6 furlongs | 1:12.80 | $50,000 | | Dead heat |
| 1979 | Cabrini Green | 4 | Michael Morgan | John P. James | Mrs. Joe W. Brown | 6 furlongs | 1:12.80 | $50,000 | | Dead heat |
| 1978 | Last Buzz | 5 | Anthony Rini | George H. Hallock | Taylor Faulkner & Everett Lowrance | 6 furlongs | 1:09.80 | $25,000 | | |
| 1977 | Silver Hope | 6 | Rudy L. Turcotte | Charles O. Battles | Mrs. Herman J. Udouj | 6 furlongs | 1:11.80 | $25,000 | | |
| 1976 | Navajo | 6 | James D. Nichols | James O. Keefer | Joseph Stevenson & Raymond Stump | 6 furlongs | 1:10.20 | $25,000 | | |
| 1975 | Prince Astro | 6 | David E. Whited | William C. Thomas | C. L. Warner | 6 furlongs | 1:09.80 | $25,000 | | |
| 1974 | § J. R.'s Pet | 3 | Darrel G. McHargue | Harold Tinker | W. Cal Partee | 6 furlongs | 1:12.20 | $25,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1973 | Starkers | 3 | Danny Gargan | Roy J. Gillem | Greentree Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:10.40 | $25,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1972 | ƒ Hempens Song | 3 | Phil Grimm | David R. Vance | Dan Lasater | 6 furlongs | 1:12.00 | $20,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1971 | Staunch Avenger | 3 | David E. Whited | Gin L. Collins | Annette Mann | 6 furlongs | 1:10.20 | $15,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1970 | Sado | 3 | William Fleming | Harold Tinker | W. Cal Partee | 6 furlongs | 1:10.80 | $15,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1969 | Chief Sun Dance | 3 | Michael McDowell | W. R. Morris | Forrest H. Lindsay | 6 furlongs | 1:13.20 | $15,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1968 | ƒ§ Crown Jem | 3 | Jimmy Curry | Leroy R. Smyser | Clay Stinson | 6 furlongs | 1:11.80 | $10,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1967 | Roman K. | 3 | William Whitt | Jean O. Brennan | Dr. Keith Knapp | 6 furlongs | 1:09.00 | $10,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1966 | He Jr. | 3 | Jack Fieselman | Richard Posey | Everett Lowrance | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:04.20 | $10,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1965 | Swift Ruler | 3 | Larry R. Spraker | Gin L. Collins | Earl Allen | 6 furlongs | 1:10.20 | $10,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1964 | Floral Shop | 3 | Robert Nono | William H. Bishop | William H. Bishop Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:10.20 | $10,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1963 | Devil It Is | 3 | Robert Gallimore | Gino T. Alberico | Bar-El-Mar Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:10.80 | $10,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1962 | Killoqua | 3 | Kenward Bernis | W. Tomlinson | John D. Askew | 6 furlongs | 1:12.80 | $10,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1961 | Glencoe Kid | 3 | Larry Larkin | Douglas M. Davis Jr. | Alexander Harthill & Douglas M. Davis Jr. | 6 furlongs | 1:14.00 | $10,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1960 | Deemster | 3 | Alfonso Coy | Harold Tinker | August Muckler Jr. | 6 furlongs | 1:14.20 | $10,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1959 | Mail Order | 3 | John R. Adams | Larry H. Thompson | Alamode Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:13.20 | $5,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1958 | § Clem Kelly | 3 | Johnny Sellers | Al J. Horton | Harry Hough | 6 furlongs | 1:10.40 | $5,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1957 | ƒ Lori-El | 3 | Howard Craig | Michael R. Soto | Michael R. Soto & Alex E. Berke | 6 furlongs | 1:12.40 | $5,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1956 | John's Chic | 3 | John L. Rotz | Logan Fischer | Mrs. Elizabeth Muckler | 6 furlongs | 1:10.80 | $5,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1955 | Trim Destiny | 3 | Lois C. Cook | Cecil Locklear | George Rollie White | 6 furlongs | 1:10.80 | $5,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1954 | ƒ Lori Jane | 3 | Ralph Borgemenke | M. Smith | Mrs. Vera E. Smith | 6 furlongs | 1:13.00 | $5,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1953 | ƒ Sherry L | 3 | Hubert Trent | Henry Forrest | Greenacres Stock Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:11.40 | $5,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1952 | § Robert | 3 | John Heckman | Robert V. McGarvey | Emil Denemark Jr. | 6 furlongs | 1:10.40 | $5,000 | | 3YOs |
| 1951 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1950 | § Futuramatic | 3 | Job Dean Jessop | Robert V. McGarvey | Mrs. Emil Denemark | 6 furlongs | 1:12.40 | $5,575 | | 3YOs |
| 1949 | § Provocative | 3 | William Parnell | Robert V. McGarvey | Mrs. Emil Denemark | 6 furlongs | 1:12.40 | $5,800 | | 3YOs |
| 1948 | Cotton Joe | 3 | Wendell Eads | Henry Forrest | Henry Forrest | 6 furlongs | 1:12.80 | $5,700 | | 3YOs |
| 1946–1947 | 1946–1947 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1945 | Ariel Ace | 2 | Arthur Craig | Charles Sanborn | David Ferguson | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.20 | $1,500 | | 2YO |
| Hot Springs Purse |||||||||||
| 1944 | Momo Flag | 4 | Jorge Alfonso | Adelard Lamoureux | Adelard Lamoureux | 6 furlongs | 1:17.20 | $1,000 | | |
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
ƒ Filly or Mare
† In the 1981 running Gallant Serenade was first past the post but later was disqualified from the winner's prize money after failing a post race drug test. J Burns was declared the winner and all placegetters were moved up, Convenient to second and Royal Vertex to third. Trainer of Gallant Serenade, James R. Garroutte was suspended for the remainder of the Oaklawn season.