Trainer Ron Moquett Approaching 1,000-Win Milestone

Trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs continues to move closer to a career milestone.

Favored Chupapi Munyayo represented Moquett’s 985th career North American Thoroughbred victory in Sunday’s third race at Oaklawn, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization.

Chupapi Munyayo ($4.40) was also the 333rd career Oaklawn victory for Moquett, who is the 11th-winningest trainer in Oaklawn history.

Moquett, 52, saddled his first career Thoroughbred winner (Rare Money) May 16, 1998, at Prairie Meadows in Iowa, according to Equibase. Moquett’s first Oaklawn victory – sixth overall – was Feb. 10, 1999, with Showtime Sis.

Among active trainers at Oaklawn, only Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen (936), Jinks Fires (477) and Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas (365) have more career victories in Hot Springs. Moquett said he would like to reach the milestone at Oaklawn, his home track. There are 12 days remaining in the 2023-2024 meeting.

“We’re going to try,” Moquett said. "This place is odd because you’ve got the best people in the world at the claiming game and then you’ve got the best people in the world at the allowance and maiden specials, at the same spot. You can go to Iowa and dominate the allowances or go to Kentucky and dominate claiming. But here, it’s a hard spot to try and get those kinds.”

Moquett’s first career Thoroughbred starter (Maui’s Hickridge) was Nov. 16, 1997, at tiny Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw, Okla., according to Equibase. Moquett grew up near Blue Ribbon, which is about 230 miles northwest of Hot Springs. The facility is now shuttered for racing.

Moquett is best known for his work with Whitmore, who collected an Eclipse Award in 2020 as the country’s champion male sprinter after winning the $2 million G1-Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland. Moquett won nine races at Oaklawn with Whitmore, including a record-tying seven stakes races. Swift Ruler is the only other horse in Oaklawn history with seven career stakes victories.

Chupapi Munyayo, a homebred for Moquett’s Southern Springs Stables, was ridden by Keith Asmussen, Oaklawn’s second-leading rider this season. Moquett is tied for seventh in the 2023-2024 Oaklawn standings with 17 victories.

Moquett has 14 horses entered this week at Oaklawn, which races Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Oaklawn’s 64-day meeting ends Sunday, May 5.