Atitlan catches Packs a Wahlop in Charles Whittingham

ARCADIA, Calif. - Atitlan won consecutive starts for the first time in his 10-race career in Saturday’s Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita after catching a stubborn stretch leader in Packs a Wahlop.

Atitlan ($3.20) finished a head in front of 15-1 Packs a Wahlop, who took the lead in the final furlong from pacesetter Balladeer.

Atitlan closed from fourth in a field of six and needed the entire stretch to gain control. Ridden by Hector Berrios, Atitlan was fourth on the turn, and third with a furlong remaining.

Berrios said he was briefly concerned when he began to urge Atitlan on the turn.

“When I asked him, he didn’t respond too much,” Berrios said.

Eventually, Atitlan closed ground on Balladeer and Packs a Wahlop and finished 1 1/4 miles on turf in 1:59.92. Atitlan earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

Dicey Mo Chara (14-1) closed from fifth to finish third, and was followed by Balladeer, City Exile, and Maltese Falcon. Wizard of Westwood was scratched on Saturday morning.

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Balladeer, winner of the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship in October 2023, set an early pace of 23.38 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.59 for a half-mile, leading by as many as five lengths. The advantage was reduced to 1 1/2 lengths with a quarter-mile remaining.

Atitlan, winner of the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita last October, was fifth in the Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf in his 2023 debut on Feb. 8. He won the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf by two lengths on March 22.

Owned by John O’Connor and trained by John Shirreffs, Atitlan earned $120,000 of the $200,500 purse. A 4-year-old colt by The Factor, Atitlan has won 4 of 10 starts and earned $420,000.

The Whittingham was run 21 minutes before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, where the Shirreffs-trained Baeza ran third to Sovereignty.

Packs a Wahlop was claimed for $50,000 in December by Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler and started in the longest race of his career in the Whittingham Stakes.

“John has been waiting to run him long,” owner Kosta Hronis said. “He made the winner earn it.”

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