‘Dough, Whitmore Shine on Preakness Undercard

While Preakness (G1) upsetter Cloud Computing was the obvious star at Pimlico Race Course last weekend, a pair of other runners turned my head with stirring performances of note.  

NO MO DOUGH rated as the most visually impressive winner in my view and looks like a fine prospect for trainer Graham Motion. Racing next-to-last for much of the Sir Barton S. against a pretty good field, the son of Uncle Mo uncorked a move that was simply awesome, passing runners with ease and drawing off in the lane with sustained power. The exciting sophomore colt has moved forward with his BRIS Speed number in every lifetime try and has also earned triple-digit Late Pace figures in three of his four career outings.

He’s aced both two-turn tests to this point and shown versatility winning over fast, good and sloppy main ovals. And I think No Mo Dough can continue to move forward in a big way with more experience. The Alex Campbell homebred is out of a Deputy Minister mare, suggesting more ground should be up his alley, and the bay is in the right hands with the patient Motion. No Mo Dough could have a fine second half of 2017.

I have spent a lot of time building up WHITMORE this spring and son of Pleasantly Perfect came through again, offering a fine late kick to take the Maryland Sprint H. (G3) and stay unbeaten from a quartet of runs this season. The Ron Moquett pupil is unblemished from seven lifetime sprint races and continued to validate himself from a national perspective. He defeated A. P. Indian, one of the top sprint horses in the country, and proved to be more than an Oaklawn Park sensation.

Chestnut gelding has earned four strong BRIS Speed numbers (104-102-102-104) in 2017 and has to be considered among the best in his division. Whitmore figures to point toward Grade 1 events in New York this summer.