Itsinthepost faces seven rivals

ARCADIA, Calif. – Itsinthepost finished third in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland on April 21, a narrow loss that ended his perfect 2018.

Earlier this year, Itsinthepost won three consecutive graded stakes on turf at Santa Anita. He could easily win a fourth in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Trained by Jeff Mullins for Red Barons Barn, Itsinthepost will be favored in the $200,000 Whittingham, which drew a field of eight. There are two other current-year stakes winners in the field – Flamboyant, who won the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields in an 11-1 upset on March 31, and What a View, the 7-year-old who won the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf on April 21.

They all must hold off Itsinthepost, who will be ridden by Tyler Baze and is expected to show his typical style of racing as a stalker.

KEY CONTENDERS

Itsinthepost, by American Post Last 3 Beyers: 99-103-102

◗ Itsinthepost’s stakes wins earlier this year ranged in distance from 1 1/8 to 1 1/2 miles. In the Elkhorn, Itsinthepost was closer to the front than normal under jockey Tyler Baze, dueled for the lead on the turn, and was beaten threequarters of a length by One Go All Go. Itsinthepost typically is a few lengths off the pace and makes one run through the final three furlongs.

“If Tyler let him go, maybe we don’t get what we got,” trainer Jeff Mullins said, reflecting on the tactics in the Elkhorn. “You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

What a View, by Vronsky Last 3 Beyers: 94-88-83

◗ What a View has won 8 of 24 starts but has never gone 1 1/4 miles. The longer distance for the veteran turf miler is not an issue for trainer Kenny Black.

“He’s older and a little smarter,” Black said. “I think it will suit him. He’s run well in all of his mile-and-an-eighth races.”

◗ What a View is expected to set the pace, a tactic Black said should work in his favor.

“There doesn’t look like a whole lot of speed in there,” he said.

Syntax, by Haatef Last 3 Beyers: 96-95-97

◗ Syntax was third in the Whittingham Stakes in his final start of last year. Earlier this year, Syntax was fourth in both the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile and San Francisco Mile.

“I think the distance is what he wants to do,” trainer Phil D’Amato said of Saturday’s race. “When he was ready to run, they didn’t have the perfect distance for him.”

◗ D’Amato also starts Kenjis-storm, who finished third in the American Stakes in his 2018 stakes debut. Both will need to be at their best to beat Itsinthepost, who D’Amato thinks may be vulnerable in his fifth start of 2018.

“I’m hoping the long campaign and the travel catches up with him a little bit,” D’Amato said. “He’s full of heart, but my two horses are primed and ready go to.”