Whitmore Stakes: Edge to Edge Tops a Wide Open Field of Ten Male Sprinters

Whitmore Stakes Odds and Post Position

Check out our predictions and odds for the Whitmore Stakes at Oaklawn Park!

*Odds provided by author Brian Zipse.

Whitmore Stakes Predictions and Best Bets

Here are my plays ($60 in total)

$10 Exacta Part Wheel - Tejano Twist over Flash of Mischief, Morello, Miles Ahead, and Spankster = $40 

$5 Exacta Part Wheel - Flash of Mischief, Morello, Miles Ahead, and Spankster over Tejano Twist = $20 

If you're playing only to win, go with my top pick Tejano Twist (5/1).    

Coming off two fast wins over the track, Edge to Edge tops a wide-open field of ten male sprinters in Saturday’s Grade 3 Whitmore Stakes at Oaklawn Park. 

The speedy son of Competitive Edge is one of two in the race for trainer Chris Hartman. Running strictly in an allowance company for the last few years, he has never been better than he is right now. 

After a narrow loss in the mud three starts back, he came back to win a pair of salty allowance races in style. Most recently he defeated three graded stakes winners, going wire to wire.

Chief among his rivals in the 6-furlong Whitmore will be the lightly raced Cogburn. One of two in the field trained by Steve Asmussen, he has only started six times but has flashed plenty of talent. 

A winner of half of his lifetime starts, the Not This Time colt was a game-winner of a local allowance race, which was his first start in nearly nine months. Last year at Oaklawn, he just missed in the Bachelor Stakes after easily winning an allowance.

Asmussen’s other runner also merits strong consideration. Morello was fourth in his seasonal debut behind Edge to Edge, but he brings plenty of back class to the table on Saturday. 

The son of Classic Empire was a two-time stakes winner in New York last year, highlighted by an easy score in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes.

Whitmore Stakes Predictions and Race Analysis

Edge to Edge

Looking at his last two wins, which both came over the track, you can see why this experienced 5-year-old deserves to be a favorite on Saturday. Both wins were impressive wire-to-wire scores, and in the last one, he beat some very good horses. 

Now he looks to prove his hot form in a graded-stakes race. In a different situation, I could certainly see him get the job done, but unlike his recent wins, this race is loaded with speed. 

I don’t expect him to have an easy time with this contentious early pace, and because of this, I believe he will be beaten in the Whitmore.

Cogburn

This son of Not This Time has yet to win a stakes race, but it just looks to be a matter of time before the talented colt breaks through. Since finishing fourth in his debut, he has run nothing but strong races in the next five. 

After narrowly missing in two stakes last spring, he had a long layoff before returning to Oaklawn Park last month. A game allowance win shows he has not lost a step. 

The problem for him on Saturday will be all the other speeds in the race. For that reason, I am looking elsewhere, but he is a dangerous and talented sprinter

Tejano Twist

Having already talked about the amount of speed in this race, it’s time to talk about a horse who loves to pick up the pieces. 

Never better, this son of Practical Joke had a three-race winning streak snapped last time when he finished second in a sloppy edition of the King Cotton Stakes. That defeat came at the hands of Gunite, though, and he is one of the best sprinters in the country. 

Here he has found a little easier competition and a race loaded with speed. It should set up perfectly for his big late run. He is the top pick.

Flash of Mischief

This son of Into Mischief has run a number of strong performances for trainer Karl Broberg in the last few years. He likes to win, and he is no stranger to tough races. 

Since switching to sprints four races back, he has won two stakes races and is eligible to win another on Saturday. He did not fire last time in the slop, but that should only make his odds more attractive here. 

One of the class horses in the field, he can take advantage of a fast pace and rally at this distance. A clear contender, he is a must-use in the exotics in the Whitmore.

Morello

This son of Classic Empire did not do much behind Edge to Edge last time when fourth in a salty allowance sprint, but he will get a totally different race set up on Saturday. 

In that race Edge to Edge went right to the lead in the small field and all the others could do was chase. This time around there will be plenty of speed to soften up the favorite. 

After impressively winning two stakes in New York early last year, his record has been spotty, but I believe the talent is still there. This could be a race where he really comes running in the stretch. He is a contender on Saturday.

Pirate Rick

Shipping down from the Northeast, this busy 6-year-old gelding had a four-race winning streak going into January but has lost his last three as he moved up in class. 

Another one with strong early speed, he looks to be part of a contested and hot early pace. All of his wins have come when he goes right to the lead.

While he cannot be completely ignored here, this looks like a tough spot for a speed horse who has failed to stay on in three recent stakes attempts up north.

Miles Ahead

This son of Competitive Edge was able to add two more stakes wins to his total last year, and must be respected as he tries to better his third-place finish behind Gunite and Tejano Twist last time in the sloppy King Cotton. 

He is also a winner of 12 races in 27 career tries, which is all the more reason for respect. In his best races, he likes to stay relatively close and pounce on the leaders, which could be tough in this field, which could be tough with all the speed in here. 

All in all, though, he looks like an interesting longshot who is a real threat to make it into the exotics.

Empire of Gold

Another one with plenty of early speed, this son of Goldencents has turned in some very good results in his career. It’s been a few years since his very best, though. 

Still, his recent form is solid enough to consider, having finished in the top two in his last five races. His back class is also a plus. 

He is fast and game, but the problem here is that there is too much other speed to give him any breathers at any point during the race. For that reason, I am looking elsewhere.

Spankster

Trained by the ageless D. Wayne Lukas, this son of Mastery comes in off a couple of nice performances over the track. 

Two starts back, he finished full of run to be beaten less than a length by Cogburn. Last out, he rallied in the slop to get up for the victory in allowance company. 

He’s never beaten this type of field before, but given his recent form, he is worth considering on Saturday. He also should appreciate a fast and contentious early pace.

Baytown Bear

This gray son of Upstart was a 10-length winner of an allowance race last fall at Mountaineer Park. That has been his highlight of late, as his form is full of losses against stakes competition. 

Most recently, he was a well-beaten fifth behind Flash of Mischief in the Ring the Bell. Perhaps he will break through in a stakes race at some point, but this field looks a little too tough. I can’t recommend his chances here.

How to Watch the Whitmore Stakes

Whitmore Stakes Race Information

• What: Whitmore Stakes (Grade 3)

• Location: Oaklawn Park

• Time: Saturday, March 18 -- 5:22 pm Eastern time

• How to Watch: FanDuel TV

• Purse: $200,000