Blow the Whistle Tops Leaders' List by Wins for 2018

While the racing world will forever remember 2018 as the year horses like Justify , Accelerate , and Monomoy Girl dominated on the racetrack, there are just as many runners who slid under the radar of history but are no less worthy of recognition. 

Although he doesn't have a stakes win to his name, one of those stalwart performers is Blow the Whistle, a now 7-year-old gelded son of Dixie Chatter who ended the year tied atop the leaders' list by wins in the mainland United States.

Owned by Mason Dixon Stable and trained by Timothy Kreiser, Blow the Whistle won 10 of his 13 starts in 2018 for total earnings of $137,452. 

"He's a nice horse," Kreiser said. "A good-looking horse, good-feeling horse. He's always on his toes. He likes the game." 

Bred in California by Packsaddle Road out of the Unusual Heat mare Electric Chair, Blow the Whistle was claimed by Kreiser at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse on Oct. 13, 2017, for $15,000. 

"We claimed him hoping he would like to run long because he had always closed on six furlongs, and we got lucky," Kreiser said. "He ended up really liking to go long. That was probably the only change we made—stretching him out." 

All of Blow the Whistle's 10 victories in 2018 came at distances ranging from one mile to 1 1/8 miles. Kreiser, who has trained for close to 30 years from his base at Penn National, said Blow the Whistle has been the epitome of class in the barn, demanding only attention and carrots as compensation for his victories. The gelding is set to have his first gallop of the new year Jan. 10. 

"He's a nice horse," Kreiser said. "He's quiet in the stall, he doesn't do anything wrong. He just prances around the barn. He thinks he's top dog. And when he gallops, he really gallops. He doesn't go out to lollygag around.

"He's a good eater, loves carrots. He would absolutely eat a whole bag if you gave it to him. He's just a really good-feeling, good-looking horse." 

Other horses who notched 10 victories this year are Persie ($114,372) and Hot Rodin ($64,135).

Racing at Camarero in Puerto Rico, Arriesgado won 11 of his 16 starts and earned $54,942.

Gun Runner  led all North American Thoroughbreds by earnings in 2018 with $7 million. The 2017 Horse of the Year entered stud in 2018 at Three Chimneys Farm directly following his win in the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1). Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Accelerate  finished second with total earnings of $5,005,000. Undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify  rounded out the top three with earnings of $3,798,000.