Wet Your Whistle kept his hot streak alive with a late-running upset score in the GI Highlander S. at Woodbine Saturday. Despite a pair of bullet works on the Fair Hill all-weather, most recently breezing a half-mile in :47 2/5 (1/28) June 22, and his hot streak, the gelding was let go at 11-1 in this major jump up in class. Caboosing the field, the dark bay bided his time as Yorkton ticked off early fractions of :22.44 and :44.87. Six wide in the lane, Wet Your Whistle closed resolutely, swiftly picking off rivals to register his fourth straight win and first at the graded level.
“You know he just learned to settle himself down just enough,” said winning trainer Michael Trombetta. “He's a high-strung type of individual and he's learned to run when he's supposed to and it's been a lot fun. He is one of those kind of horses. He can do five-and-a-half [furlongs] and probably up to a mile. I think he definitely prefers one turn, but there's lots of options for him. You know, he will do synthetic as well. So there are lots of choices.”
“The last couple times he did not get out so well,” said winning rider Alex Cintron of the rough starts out of the gate. “I just left him alone. He's been running great that–I just tried not to change anything in this race. I just tried to ride the same race I rode the last time. And I think he ran better than the last time. I was impressed with the last quarter of a mile…he was flying. He floated.”
Wet Your Whistle, who was in for a $40,000 tag when winning his debut at Laurel last year, entered this class hike on a three-race win streak. Romping by 8 1/4 lengths in a Woodbine allowance on synthetic Dec. 16, the $17,000 KEESEP buy captured a turf sprint at Laurel Apr. 25 and followed suit with a win in Monmouth's Get Serious S. on the grass May 19.
Pedigree Notes:
Wet Your Whistle is the first Grade I winner for his sire Stroll, who currently stands in Iowa. He is also the seventh graded stakes winner for the stallion. His dam Winlocs Glory Days also produced the 3-year-old filly Shacklette (Shackleford), who won an allowance at Churchill Downs June 13 for Dale Romans, and an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Algorithms.
Saturday, Woodbine
HIGHLANDER S.-GI, C$304,800, Woodbine, 6-29, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:07.88, fm.
1–WET YOUR WHISTLE, 118, g, 4, by Stroll
1st Dam: Winlocs Glory Days, by Belong to Me
2nd Dam: Winloc's Millie, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Our Millie, by Mr. Prospector
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($17,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-David W. Palmer; B-E. H. Lane (KY); T-Michael J. Trombetta; J-Alex Cintron. C$180,000. Lifetime Record: 11-5-0-1, $275,153. *1/2 to Julie Darlin (Seattle Fitz {Arg}), SP, $157,340. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Extravagant Kid, 119, g, 6, Kiss the Kid–Pretty Extravagant, by With Distinction. O-DARRS, Inc.; B-Vicino Racing Stable (FL); T-Brendan P. Walsh. C$60,000.
3–White Flag, 119, h, 5, War Front–Shared Hope, by Gone West. ($725,000 RNA Wlg '14 FTKNOV). O-Robert S. Evans; B-R. S. Evans (KY); T-Christophe Clement. C$30,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, HF. Odds: 3.65, 3.25, 4.30.
Also Ran: El Tormenta, Caribou Club, Yorkton, Detroit Steel (Ire), Souper Smart, Tricks to Doo.
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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