Triple B Farms’ WHILLY (Ire) (Sri Pekan) took the lead soon after the start
and never looked back en route to a half-length, gate-to-wire score in the
$250,000 American H. (G2) at Hollywood Park on Sunday. Trained by Doug O’Neill
and ridden by Felipe Martinez, the four-year-old bay set mild splits of :23 2/5,
:47 1/5, 1:10 2/5 and 1:34 1/5, before completing the nine-furlong grassy
contest in 1:46 1/5. The 7-1 shot paid $16.20, $6.40 and $4.40 while topping the
$21.50 exacta ($1) and $140.60 trifecta ($1).
King of Happiness (Spinning World), the 9-5 favorite, rode the rail the whole
way around but could not catch the winner, settling for the place a head clear
of third. The runner-up was good for $3.40 and $2.60. Fourty Niners Son
(Distorted Humor) was well placed on the outside but could not collar the top
pair, earning the show at 10-1 and paying $4.40. Qsar (Ger) (Tiger Hill) was on
the bottom of the $696.70 superfecta ($1) at 9-2.
Laura’s Lucky Boy (Theatrical [Ire]) was next and trailed by Fast and Furious
(Fr) (Singspiel [Ire]), Capitano (Belong to Me) and Sigint (Wekiva Springs),
while He’s Crafty (Crafty Prospector) was scratched.
Whilly tallied his initial Grade 1 conquer in here to boost his mark to
16-8-1-1 with earnings of $882,482. The bay previously annexed the San Marcos S.
(G2), Sir Beaufort S. and Bien Bien S, with placings in the Dubai Duty Free S.
(UAE-G1) and Cinema Breeders’ Cup H. (G3).
The winner was bred in Ireland by Scuderia Blueberry and produced from Santa
Rosa (Lahib), making him a half-brother to the stakes-winning filly Rose Shift
(Night Shift) and an unraced two-year-old filly named Sciras (Bluebird).