Old boy of the party Whitmore made it fourth time lucky in the Breeders' Cup Sprint with a ready victory at Keeneland.
After gallant Sprint finishes of eighth, second and third behind Mitole at Santa Anita 12 months ago, seven-year-old Whitmore got it right on the big day and did so in style.
The pace was extremely hot - opening quarter mile in 21.64 seconds - and Irad Ortiz Jr, who was back in the plate for the first time since the chestnut's three-year-old campaign in 2016, let the action unfold and stayed close to the inside having broken from stall seven.
As the field fanned out into the straight Ortiz saw a dream run open up and took it, sending Whitmore to claim Empire Of Gold, who had picked it up from front-running Japanese raider Jasper Prince at the top of the straight.
Once in the clear the blinkered Whitmore engaged overdrive and powered away to win by the best part of five lengths, with C Z Rocket running on for second at 9/1 and Firenze Fire third at 12s.
Ortiz said: "He's an old man and he knows what he's doing. I cut the corner and I said go."
An emotional winning trainer Ronald Moquett said: "We hoped his experience would pay off and it did. There were talented horses but we hoped it would help. I think he just wants it.
"The horse isn't easy to be around but the whole crew has the horse's best interests in mind."
