CLASSY BEYOND BRILLIANT HEADS SATURDAY’S GRADE II, $225,000 CHARLES WHITTINGHAM STAKES AS 3-YEAR-OLDS & UP GO 1 ¼ MILES ON TURF
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 27, 2022)–C R K Stable’s classy Beyond Brilliant will try to stretch his speed to a mile and one quarter on turf as he heads a field of seven 3-year-olds and up in Saturday’s Grade II, $225,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita.
Sent to the front in the Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile (turf) on March 5, Beyond Brilliant showed the way to deep stretch before grudgingly giving way to finish fourth, beaten one length at odds of 9-1. A front-running neck winner of the Grade I Hollywood Derby at a mile and one eighth on turf three starts back at Del Mar on Nov. 27, he’ll be trying a mile and one quarter for the first time in what will be his 12th career start.
Trained by John Shirreffs, Beyond Brilliant, a 4-year-old colt by Twirling Candy out of the First Defence mare Summer On the Lawn, was ridden for the first time by Victor Espinoza in the Kilroe Mile and will be ridden back by Espinoza on Saturday.
Although he finished fourth, Beyond Brilliant earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure, the best of his career in the Kilroe. With an overall mark of 11-3-3-2, he has earnings of $451,280.
Trained by Richard Baltas, long fused Masteroffoxhounds makes his second start of the year in the Whittingham and merits a big look off of a second place finish in a classified allowance going one mile on turf here March 25. Sent to the lead by Juan Hernandez, Masteroffoxhounds gave way grudgingly late, finishing second by a half length at odds of 2-1.
A winner of the Grade II San Marcos stakes going a mile and one quarter over the turf six starts back on Feb. 6, 2021, Masteroffoxhounds, a 5-year-old horse by War Front, has proven versatile and can either stalk the early pace or go to the front.
Owned by Rockingham Ranch, Masteroffoxhounds seeks his second graded stakes victory and third win in what will be his ninth stateside start with Baltas. Originally raced in Ireland, where he posted one win from six starts, he’s 14-3-2-2 overall with earnings of $260,042.
Trainer Leonard Powell’s English-bred Dicey Mo Chara, second by a half length in the Grade II San Luis Rey Stakes on March 12, shortens up a quarter mile with Drayden Van Dyke and appears in top form as he seeks his first graded stakes win. Close to the early pace in his last two starts, Dicey Mo Chara, a 4-year-old gelding, was a solid half length winner of a second condition allowance going a mile and one eighth on turf two starts back on Feb. 4.
Owned by Red Baron’s Barn, LLC and Rancho Temescal, Dicey Mo Chara has an overall mark of 10-3-3-1 and has earnings of $200,277.
Leading trainer Phil D’Amato will be well represented by a pair of runners, Rio Del Sol Stables’ 5-year-old Gregdar, who has been close in three turf sprints at the current meet and thus figures to attend the pace on Saturday under regular rider Ryan Curatolo, and 4-year-old Gold Phoenix, an Irish-bred gelding who was favored in all three of his stateside starts.
Gold Phoenix was up to win a first condition allowance going one mile on turf by a neck on April 2 and will be ridden back by Kyle Frey. Owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, LLC and Marsha Naify, Gold Phoenix has two wins and as many second from four starts.
THE GRADE II CHARLES WHITTINGHAM WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 11 of 12 Approximate post time 6 p.m. PT
- Gregdar–Ryan Curatolo–122
- Dean Martini–Abel Cedillo–122
- Majestic Eagle–Mike Smith–122
- Dicey Mo Chara–Drayden Van Dyke–122
- Gold Phoenix–Kyle Frey–122
- Masteroffoxhounds–Juan Hernandez–122
- Beyond Brilliant–Victor Espinoza–126
First post time for a 12-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.
