Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map) became her freshman sire's second Grade I winner with an impressive front-running victory in the GI Frizette S. at Belmont Park Sunday. The win earned the 'TDN Rising Star' a berth in next month's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Sent off the slight second choice at 5-2, the chestnut filly took charge soon after the break and was unpressured while setting fractions of :22.91 and :46.49. Favored Frank's Rockette (Into Mischief) offered a mild threat to the pacesetter with a furlong to run, but Wicked Whisper shrugged off that foe with minimal urging from Joel Rosario and came home an easy winner. Liam's Map is also the sire of GI Runhappy Hopeful S. winner Basin. Both juveniles are trained by Steve Asmussen.
“She relaxed good and was able to have a little extra in the last part,” Rosario said. “There was a lot of speed. I was going to break and see; if someone went, maybe lay second or third. She had nice cruising speed right away and I just decided to go on with her. Every time I asked her, she was there for me. It was her first time going a mile, so you just want something for the last part. She responded and just kept going. The more I asked, the more she was going. She looks like she's real spirited and looking around and enjoying herself.”
Toby Sheets, assistant to winning trainer Steve Asmussen, added, “She did everything perfectly. You could see by her ears she was just waiting and Joel just showed her the crop once and she ran great. She's a very nice and classy horse.”
Asked about a possible start in the Breeders' Cup, Sheets said, “We're going to enjoy the moment and go from there and take it one step at a time.”
Wicked Whisper earned her 'Rising Star' tag with a head-turning 6 1/4-length debut victory while sprinting six furlongs at Saratoga Aug. 25.
Pedigree Notes:
Wicked Whisper was the priciest of 64 yearlings by her first-crop sire Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song) to sell last year when she sold for $500,000 at Keeneland September. In addition to GI Runhappy Hopeful S. winner Basin, the Lane's End stallion is also the sire of stakes-placed Song River.
Wicked Whisper's half-sister by Union Rags was purchased by Godolphin for $1 million at last month's Keeneland September sale. Zayana is also the dam of Point of Honor (Curlin), winner of this year's GII Black-Eyed Susan S. and second in the GI Alabama S. and GI Coaching Club American Oaks. The mare, a half-sister to graded winners Heavenly Ransom (Red Ransom), Dilemma (Grand Slam), and Mr Freeze (To Honor and Serve), produced a colt by Curlin this year.
Sunday, Belmont Park
FRIZETTE S.-GI, $400,000, Belmont, 10-6, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:35.92, ft.
1–WICKED WHISPER, 120, f, 2, by Liam's Map
1st Dam: Zayanna, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Heavenly Cat, by Tabasco Cat
3rd Dam: In Excelcis Deo, by Forty Niner
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($500,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Alex &
JoAnn Lieblong; B-Siena Farms LLC (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $220,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0,
$269,500. *1/2 to Point of Honor (Curlin), GSW & MGISP,
$466,375. **Second SW for freshman sire (by Unbridled's
Song). Werk Nick Rating: B+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Frank's Rockette, 120, f, 2, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Rocket Twentyone, by Indian Charlie
2nd Dam: Symphonic Lady, by Blare of Trumpets
3rd Dam: Wavering Lady, by Wavering Monarch
'TDN Rising Star' O-Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc.;
B-Frank Fletcher (KY); T-William I. Mott. $80,000.
3–Slam Dunk, 120, f, 2, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Easy Slam, by Grand Slam
2nd Dam: Easy Pass, by Easy Goer
3rd Dam: Ballare, by Nijinsky II
($185,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $450,000 Ylg '18 FTSAUG).
O-Magic Cap Stables; B-Jay Goodwin, Meredith Krupp, Indian
Creek & Rick Smith (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. $48,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 3 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.95, 2.60, 12.30.
Also Ran: Ice Princess, Daphne Moon, Miss Marissa, Quality Response. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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