Robert A. Alexander’s WILLOW O WISP (Misnomer) tracked pacesetter
Juliesugardaddy (Unusual Heat) in second through opening splits of :24 4/5, :49
1/5, 1:12 3/5 and 1:35 3/5 before wearing down his rival in deep stretch for a
head victory in Saturday’s $150,000
La Jolla H. (G2) at Del Mar. With Garrett
Gomez in the saddle, the Vladimir Cerin-trained gelding captured the 1 1/16-mile
firm turf test for three-year-olds in 1:41 2/5.
Favored at 7-5, Willow O Wisp returned $4.80, $3.80 and $2.40 and keyed the
$17.10 ($1) exacta with Juliesugardaddy, who was off at 6-1 and paid $6 and $3.
El Roblar (War Chant), the 8-5 second favorite, advanced into a menacing
position on the far turn but lacked the needed rally into the stretch, finishing
another two lengths back in third and paying $2.40. The 4-2-3 trifecta gave back
$29.30 for $1. In Excelsis (Fusaichi Pegasus), Steal Your Thunder (Thunder
Gulch), Boggy Creek (Menifee) and Stedfast McStaunch (Ire) (Desert Style)
completed the order of finish.
Willow O Wisp began his racing career in maiden claiming events on the main
track and became a much better performer when switching to turf last fall. He
opened his sophomore campaign with an allowance score at Hollywood Park,
finished second in the Will Rogers S. (G3) in his next outing and captured the
Cinema Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) by two lengths in his most recent start. Bred in
Florida by Fred W. Pace, Willow O Wisp hails from the winning Woodman mare
Willow Woodman, who is also the dam of the unraced juvenile filly Witchy Willow
(Northern Afleet), a yearling colt by Doneraile Court and a 2005 colt by
Evansville Slew.
His career line now reads 11-4-1-1 with $269,240 in earnings. The September 5
Del Mar Derby (G2) is next for Willow O Wisp.