Whimsical Stakes (Grade 3)- $125.000 Purse
WO- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
April 20, 2019

A wide open field for the Whimsical Stakes was thrown a curveball by the weather as rain that has plagued many of the east coast tracks made the track here at WO muddy and soft as well. After six furlongs, the post time favorite, Thalassa, would not disappoint and give trainer Maxmillion Farm and jockey R M Hernandez each their first ever win in the race. Congratulations to them! The time of the muddy win was 1:11.88. Let’s take a look!

(1/4 Mile- :23.40)- It’s a two horse breakaway at the start of the race as both Crimson Sazerac, out of Lc Racing Inc, and Four Soxs, for Greeko Holdem, jump out to a big four length lead after just two furlongs as they run side by side and battle one another for the lead. Ghost Havoc is in the third spot, and leading the rest of the pack for D J C Racing Stables. Vanilla Capitano (Greeko Holdem) is to her inside on the rail, with Ker Splash (Invicta Group Llc) a length behind them. Trailing is our eventual winner, Thalassa, for Maxmillion Farm, who has six lengths to make up on the leaders, but just two on the third place Ghost Havoc.

(½ Mile- :47.04, Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- The leaders slow the pace down just a little bit as they battle one another while rounding the turn. Neither really gets a decisive edge over the other, but as they approach the stretch, we can see their lead begin to diminish. Ghost Havoc has cut it down to two and a half and is set for a strong stretch run now. Thalassa, towards the exit of the turn, makes a three wide move to pass both Vanilla Capitano and Ker Splash while cutting her own deficit to four lengths, and gaining one length on Ghost Havoc in the process.

(Finish- 1:11.88)- With a furlong to go, you can stick a fork in the two early leaders as Ghost Havoc takes the rail, and takes the lead. However, on the outside, and with authority, Thalassa was running exceptionally well, and with the way she had closed on Ghost Havoc as well, this seemed to be her race now. In the final strides, she was much the best, and beats Ghost Havoc by half a length. Ker Splash edges Il Capitano in the tight show photo as both of them got by the early pacesetters. Crimson Sazerac beat out Four Soxs.

About The Winner- Thalassa, trained by Maxmillion Farm, and ridden to victory by R M Hernandez, is a four year filly by Greek God, and is out of Thirlling Baby. She was bred in Kentucky by Our Athletes as a yearling, and acquired by Maxmillion via First Class Stable, in a January 2018 private sale for $20.000. The win is her third in 16 starts, and it is her first stake win. Congratulations to the connections! Her career earnings are now $232.730.

Track: Muddy
Time: :23²  :47   :59¹  1:11⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 6 – 5 Paid 10.30
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 5 – 4 Paid 381.20

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES