Re-Claimed Wholehearted Wins Wilma Mankiller Stakes
Image:
Description:
Photo: Coady Photography
Wholehearted wins the Wilma Mankiller Stakes at Will Rogers Downs
M and M Racing's Wholehearted, who was claimed back for $25,000 in November, won her stakes debut April 6 at Will Rogers Downs, emerging from the back of the field to capture the $50,000 Wilma Mankiller Stakes.
Trainer Robertino Diodoro first claimed Wholehearted from Kenny McPeek's stable for Mike Sisk's M and M Racing in May 2018, when the daughter of Awesome Again was entered for a $30,000 tag at Churchill Downs. Wholehearted returned to the races in 2019 for her new connections and was claimed in her second start for them at Oaklawn Park by Cipriano Contreras for the same price. Nine months later she returned to Diodoro and Sisk after running for a tag at Churchill Downs.
The 6-year-old mare made three previous starts this year at Oaklawn, finishing second in a starter allowance then first and third in allowance optional claiming events. She stepped up to stakes company for the first time in the six-furlong Wilma Mankiller.
Wholehearted had Ty Kennedy in the irons Monday as she broke second from the rail and settled seventh of eight along the inside. She was ahead of only 3-2 favorite Estilo Femenino, who broke last and trailed in eighth for most of the race. North Carolina-bred Drip Brew broke on top and took command through fractions of :22.21 and :45.32 through the first half-mile with Ima Discreet Lady stalking the pace in second.
As the eighth-pole approached, Kennedy angled Wholehearted four wide and the dark bay or brown mare rolled past the frontrunners to a 1 3/4-length victory. The final time on a fast track was 1:10.02. Wholehearted paid $6.40 as the 2-1 second choice.
Drip Brew held on by a nose for second over Ima Discreet Lady in third. She's Shiney was fourth and Estilo Femenino improved to fifth.
Wholehearted was bred in Kentucky by Magdalena, Catalyst Stable, Horses R Us, and M. Regan. She is out of the grade 3-winning Bernstein mare My Baby Baby, who has a 2-year-old daughter by Mineshaft named Myrtle Irene and foaled a Gun Runner filly Feb. 16.
From a 5-6-12 record in 34 starts, Wholehearted has earned $258,727.