British-bred Whisper Not takes Grade 3 San Francisco Mile

The British-bred Whisper Not broke through at Graded level and gave trainer Richard Baltas back-to-back wins in one of Northern California's most prestigious races when he defeated Grade 1 winner Keeper Ofthe Stars to win the San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields.

The son of Poet's Voice came in off an allowance score at Santa Anita - his first win in the United States out of four stateside tries - to capture his first Graded contest by a head.

"[Whisper Not] broke very sharp out of the gate," winning rider Geovanni Franco said. "I figured they were going a little quick up front and he relaxed really nice up the backside. Once he started eyeballing his targets, he knew it was time to go."

Longshot Diamond Blitz galloped out to the early lead, opening an eight-length advantage after putting up quick opening fractions. The frontrunner began to tire, while Whisper Not made a three-wide bid, took the lead in upper stretch and held off Keeper Ofthe Stars for the win.

Keeper Ofthe Stars, winner of the Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita last year, raced erratically in the stretch and switched leads, missing the victory.

Whisper Not - bred by Cecil and Alison Wiggins out of the Dansili mare Poyle Meg - is owned by Electric City Racing, Madaket Stables, Christopher Dunn and Jeremy Peskoff. His record stands at four wins and three places from ten starts, with earnings of $253,292.

He made five of those starts across the pond before selling to Meah-Lloyd Bloodstock from East Everleigh Stables at last year's Tattersalls August Horses in Training Sale for 90,000gns.

The four-year-old has not finished worse than third in five American starts, and that third was in the 2020 Mathis Brothers Miles Stakes at Santa Anita last year, his first step into Graded company.

He is the first Graded winner for his dam, whose last reported foal is a yearling colt by New Bay.

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