Marckie's Water 'found daylight' to win Charles Whittingham

Last with three-sixteenths of a mile to run, California-bred Marckie’s Water steamed home while wide-out to take Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita Park by three quarters of a length under Tiago Pereira. Trained by Richard Baltas, the 5-year-old full horse by Tribal Rule got a mile and one quarter on turf in 2:00.95.  

With the Baltas-trained Morse Code heading to the early lead, Tizzarunner, Ashleyluvssugar and Prime Attraction were all in close attendance around the far turn, but Marckie’s Water got the last laugh with an impressive stretch burst.  

Most recently a half-length classified allowance winner going 1 1/8 miles on turf here April 28, Marckie’s Water, who is out of the Stravinsky mare Russian River, was off as the second choice in a field of seven 3-year-olds and up at 2-1 and paid $6.80, $3.80 and $2.60.  

"I grew up idolizing Charlie Whittingham and to win a graded stake in his name with a Cal-bred is amazing," said Billy Kosh, partner of owner Little Red Feather Racing. "We thought when they turned for home that he was going to run last, he wasn’t firing, then all of a sudden he found daylight and he just went. That was an extremely impressive performance.

"We’ve told Tiago this horse likes to make a last run and he likes to be outside of horses. It was pretty amazing down the lane."

Although he was third two starts back in the San Luis Rey Stakes (G2) on March 29, the Whittingham is Marckie’s Water’s first graded stakes win and improves his overall resume to 18: 6-0-2. With the winner’s share of $120,000, he now has earnings of $466,683.  

“The last race he didn’t break very well for me," Pereira said. "This time he broke well and he really relaxed after we passed the finish line the first time.  We settled in behind horses and when it was time to go, we went outside and he really responded."

United, who stumbled shortly after the start while between horses at the dirt crossing, ran a huge race in defeat under Flavien Prat, rallying from mid-pack to finish second, a half length in front of Ashleyluvssugar. Off at 7-2, United paid $4.60 and $3.00.  

Ridden by Brice Blanc, 8-year-old gelding Ashleyluvssugar was attentive to the pace throughout and ran a big race to be third by a head over 8-5 favorite Prime Attraction. Dispatched at 8-1, Ashleyluvssugar paid $3.40 to show.  

Fraction on the race were 24.67, 48.83, 1:13.36 and 1:37.19.