Just Whistle has upset shot

ELMONT, N.Y. – The Grade 2, $200,000 Suburban Stakes has some marquee names in 2019 Belmont Stakes 1-2 finishers Sir Winston and Tacitus, but it just may be a late bloomer who could steal the show Saturday at Belmont Park.

Just Whistle, a 5-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile trained by Michael Matz, has the grinding style that just might make him effective going the 1 1/4 miles of the Suburban. Moreover, this looks like a rare opportunity to catch the meet’s leading jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., at a price.

Just Whistle is winless in three graded stakes attempts, though he did run second to longshot winner Identifier in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope at Gulfstream Park in March. He came out of that race to beat 3-5 favorite Spinoff in the Sunday Silence Stakes at Gulfstream. That race was run at

1 1/8 miles, and Just Whistle was floated extremely wide in the stretch yet was still able to outfight Spinoff to win by a neck.

His last two races have come with the addition of blinkers. Matz believes the equipment change, time, and a healthier horse have helped Just Whistle become more consistent. Matz said Just Whistle had trouble with bone bruising early in his career.

Matz is hoping that with Mr. Buff, Moretti, and Parsimony in the field, there could be enough pace to aid his horse’s laterunning style.

“Hopefully, if there’s enough speed in the race, maybe he could pick them up at the end,” Matz said. “Irad has ridden the horse before. He’s a real lazy horse; you have to keep after him all the time. He’s just a grinding-it-all-out type.”

Sir Winston finished second behind a loose-on-the-lead Moretti in the Flat Out Stakes going 1 3/8 miles here June 11. That was his first start since January and first after returning from Dubai, where he was scheduled to run in the Dubai World Cup before that race was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sir Winston’s trainer, Mark Casse, was happy enough with the effort and, like Matz, is hoping for a more contested pace in the Suburban.

Tacitus is winless in seven starts since he won the Grade 2 Wood Memorial in April 2019. Last year, he ran second as the favorite in the Belmont Stakes, Jim Dandy, and Travers.

Following a fifth-place finish in the Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia, Tacitus was shipped to Dubai but didn’t get a chance to run. Trainer Bill Mott shipped him to Oaklawn, where he finished fourth in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap.

“I was frustrated at that time and I got myself to thinking he was doing okay and let’s run, but it was only a month back from” Dubai, Mott said. “He’s had a little more time now, had some good works.”

Tacitus has been sharper working in blinkers, equipment he will wear Saturday. Tacitus twice wore blinkers at 3, in the Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Forewarned and Joevia, third and fourth behind Code of Honor in the Westchester, also are in the Suburban. Joevia is making his second start since undergoing throat surgery.

The Suburban goes as the last of 11 races and closes out an all graded stakes late pick four.