Whitney Crowns Herself King in Desert World Cup

Original article written by Marzy Dotes posted 12 years 3 weeks ago

The moment she stepped off the trailer at Desert Oasis Park, Whitney attracted crowds of onlookers including the paparazzi.

The ruling Amazon of the sport, the five year old chestnut mare with the huge blaze looks deceptively fragile. Elegantly built and with the manners of a lady, once she steps foot on a racetrack, that all changes and the formidable champion who takes no prisoners takes center stage.

And what usually follows is that she wins.

She did just that launching a thrilling stretch run to capture the $5 million Grade I Desert World Cup by 1 ½ lengths over the formidable Flame and Smoke racing the 1 ¼ miles in 1:59.39. Since she started facing off against males in the Hot Springs Derby two years ago, that’s a scenario that’s played out often, most notably in the Long Island Classic which earned her the blanket of white carnations.

But when you look at her breeding, it’s not surprising why she’s been such a great success on the racetrack.

Eric Nalbone bred the mare and now races her. Her sire, California won the Long Island Classic himself and earned a spot for himself in the Hall of Fame. He proved to be a highly lucrative and very popular sire, and his ability as a broodmare sire is now being more fully appreciated. But his own offspring have loomed powerful on the racetrack, and he’s built a reputation as a source of formidable mares including North American Champion Three Year Old Filly Salute the Sky and North American Champion Three Year Old Filly Bodega Bay. Salute the Sky made her own mark in the Long Island Classic finishing second behind eventual Triple Crown winner Awake As I Am.

Besides these great mares, California also sired the emerging runner, Sport of Queens out of North American Champion Two Year Old Filly Babe Ruth who defeated males in the Metropolitan Handicap.

Whitney’s own dam is Loki Reflection who won seven out of nine starts including many stakes before heading to the shed. There, she produced the likes of Champion Older Mare Spark and stakes winner Pristine, who produced Last Leaf to Fall, winner of the Steward’s Cup Ladies Route.

Even as a youngster, Whitney impressed, and still holds the fourth best time for a seven furlong dirt workout. After a third place finish in her debut at a mile, she started racking up those wins including an impressive win in the Louisiana Princess Stakes. At three, she hit the Triple Crown Trail with her Hot Springs Derby, looking hot in the Louisville Derby field. Persevere captured that race in exciting fashion but Whitney finished a strong fourth. She rested up for the Long Island Classic which she set on fire defeating Battlehorse by a ½ length. While the racing industry excitedly discussed that feat, she prepped for a run at the Steward’s Cup Classic with a stirring win in the Rags to Riches Stakes.

She finished fifth in that toughly run race but remained undeterred when she returned the following season. She traveled to Desert Oasis Park for the Desert World Cup and finished second to The Awakening, impressing many in attendance with her turn of foot and her grit. Resting five weeks allowed her to recover from the arduous turnaround involving the Desert Oasis Park races and she rewarded that by winning the Cadeauje Stakes. A win in the Kentucky Crown Distaff set her up well for another run at the Steward’s Cup Classic and in a thriller of a finish, it came down to a three way battle of the heads with her narrowly losing to Persevere and Believe the Hype.

This season, she picked up lasix and a shadow roll to wear in hopes that it might help her continue to improve. She defended her title in the Beach Vacation Stakes, a strong prep for the Desert World Cup.

This year, she looked even stronger as a contender, having matured into a very formidable performer both inside and out. Flame and Smoke the powerful Louisville Derby winner from last season had won the Aknerisa Stakes in his previous start for breeder and owner Bill Outsilver. The North American champion three year old male sired by Flames looked powerful in that race.
Orange Blossom Handicap winner Sound Asleep (who’s by Tot Ziens and out of the late Wonder) looked impressive when she arrived at the Desert Oasis Park and Bow to No One appeared ready to shake off a loss to Philosophy in the recent Jet-Ski Handicap to rebound here.

But when the gates opened, that statuesque bay colt took the lead immediately by 1 ¼ lengths over Wildfire while Whitney under the careful control of David Faulkner remained in fifth place. In the backstretch Bow to No One bolted to a four length lead and no one seemed eager to go after him. Wildfire also opened up by four over Gallant Socks Handicap winner Sun and the Stars while Whitney slipped back into sixth. In the far turn, she changed that by accelerating into the second spot just 4 ¾ lengths behind Wildfire as the stretch loomed.

She didn’t breathe fire, but she perked her ears up and started turning over her legs faster as they hit the lane. She powered past the horses in front of her as if they were standing still, parting the curtain of them in front of her to seize her first major win of the year. Flame and Smoke begin to kick hard in the stretch using his smooth speed to take the second spot over Father Ralph by a length.

Still focus remained on the filly as she galloped out of her amazing finish and back to the crowded winner’s circle. She stood regally like a queen while the pictures were being taken of her receiving her awards and a rather generous check of earnings for less than two minutes of work. It’s not clear where she will been next or how she’ll cap off her year.

She appears much stronger this year, more ready to tackle the Steward’s Cup Classic again if she chooses and to reduce those who face her to her lords in waiting if she does so.

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