Whilly returns in San Marcos

Whilly (outside) will try to earn a second straight San Marcos (Michael Cabezas/Horsephotos.com)

Multiple Grade 2 hero WHILLY (Ire) (Sri Pekan) will make his five-year-old
bow on Sunday in the $150,000 San Marcos S. (G2) at Santa Anita. A half-length
winner of this event in 2005, the Doug O’Neill charge will face 13 rivals in
this year’s 1 1/4-mile turf test.

The bay horse also scored in the American H. (G2) last summer and
ended his campaign with a close second, beaten just one length, in the Clement
L. Hirsch Turf Championship S. (G1). He was demoted from second and placed fifth
for interference in deep stretch, and has been working steadily since early
November. Whilly will share top weight duties of 119 pounds with two others in
this field and gets regular rider Felipe Martinez back in the saddle.

Unraced since coming a close fourth in the 2004 Hirsch, THE TIN MAN (Affirmed) made his long-awaited return last out in a December 28
allowance at Santa Anita. That was the Grade-1 winning eight-year-old’s only
2005 start, and he captured the mile test by a head after running three wide. The Richard Mandella charge picked up right where he left off and appears ready to redeem
his head second in the 2003 San Marcos to eventual Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1)
dead-heat winner Johar with a victory this time around.

Other contenders on Sunday include the front-running WARRIOR SONG
(Unbridled’s Song), who’s captured three of his six lifetime starts and will be
making his stakes debut here, and Group 2 victor FITZ FLAG (Arg) (Flag Down),
third in the April 16 San Juan Capistrano Invitational H. (G2) in his most
recent start.