Robert A. Alexander’s WILLOW O WISP (Misnomer) powered to the front when the
gates opened in Saturday’s $100,000
Inglewood H. (G3) at Hollywood Park and was never headed en route to a 1
1/4-length victory over Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill). Sent off the 3-2
favorite in the eight-horse field, Willow O Wisp rewarded his faithful
supporters with payouts of $5, $3.80 and $2.80.
Setting splits of :23 4/5, :47, 1:10 1/5 and 1:33 1/5, the Vladimir Cerin
charge ran 1 1/16 miles on the firm turf in 1:39 under jockey Victor Espinoza.
Artiste Royal tracked in second for the opening half, before falling back to
third around the turn. Rallying between horses, he made up some ground to get
his nose down on the wire, taking second as the 16-1 second longest shot on the
board and paying $10.40 and $5. New Export (Brz) (Exile King) was a head up on
Red Fort (Ire) (Green Desert) on the line, returning $4.40 at 6-1. The $1
exotics gave back $34.20 (exacta), $218.70 (trifecta) and $531.50 (4-8-3-6
superfecta).
Narrative (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), Senor Swinger (El Prado [Ire]) and Sarafan
(Lear Fan) completed the order of finish after Quasimodo (A.P. Indy) was
scratched.
Willow O Wisp is out of the winning Willow Woodman (Woodman) and has two
unnamed half-brothers, a juvenile by Doneraile Court and a yearling by
Evansville Slew. Bred in Florida by Fred W. Pace, the bay gelding captured last
year’s Del Mar Derby (G2), La Jolla H. (G2) and Cinema Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) and
also owns a placing in the Will Rogers S. (G3). Prior to this one, he ran
seventh, just 1 1/2 lengths back of the winner, in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H.
(G1), and now owns a 15-6-1-1 mark with $569,240 in career earnings.