Never Gone South Makes It Look Easy In Whiteley

After two tough beats in the Marylander Stakes and James F Lewis Stakes in his last two starts, M M G Racing Stable's Never Gone South returned to the winner's circle in a big way Saturday afternoon with a 7 1/4-length victory in the $75,000 Frank Whiteley Jr. Stakes at Laurel Park.

Breaking on top in the five-horse field and going directly to the front under jockey Trevor McCarthy, Never Gone South galloped past easy fractions of :24.14 and :47.91 before covering the seven furlongs over a good track in 1:23.92.

"Trevor came into the paddock and said, 'We're just going to lead,' and I said, 'That's a plan,' " said trainer Cathal Lynch. "There wasn't a whole lot of speed in there and he's been ding-donging against some really nice horses."

Never Gone South finished second to Vorticity in the Marylander, who went on to finish second in the Jerome (G2), and second to Awesome Speed in the Lewis, who went on to win the Mucho Macho Man.

A 3-year-old son of Munnings, Never Gone South has now won three of five starts and has not finished worse than second.

"He showed his true class today," McCarthy said.

After breaking his maiden at Parx in June and winning the Strike Your Colors Stakes at Delaware in August, Never Gone South came up three-quarters of a length short in both the Marylander and James Lewis coming off the pace. In the Whiteley, McCarthy cruised to the front before opening up quickly around the turn and then increasing his margin of victory throughout the stretch.

"We got a good break," McCarthy said. "He was out there on an easy lead and he was so comfortable going around there today.

Lynch said the $75,000 Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Feb. 15 at a mile could be next for Never Gone South.

Source - Laurel Park