Heavens Whisper figures to step forward in optional claimer

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Canterbury Park horseplayers might want to start focusing on the horses owner Danny Caldwell and trainer Federico Villafranco are running at Oaklawn Park, including Heavens Whisper in the featured eighth race Sunday.

Caldwell will be basing at Canterbury for the first time when the meet opens May 15. He’s long been a Prairie Meadows regular and will continue to keep a division in Iowa, he said Friday. But the move into Minnesota will be significant for the owner, who has won multiple titles at Oaklawn, Prairie, and Remington Park.

“The majority of my horses will be at Canterbury,” Caldwell said. “No. 1, they’ve got a turf course.

“I visited up there two years ago. It was fan friendly, good crowds. It seemed to be a great atmosphere. I thought we’d go try it.”

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Heavens Whisper is part of a seven-horse field for Sunday’s optional $50,000 claiming sprint for fillies and mares at six furlongs. She figures to vie for favoritism with Emboldened, a stakes winner who was Grade 1-placed in Southern California, and Wholehearted, who goes for Oaklawn leading trainer Robertino Diodoro.

Heavens Whisper was second at this level Jan. 25 at Oaklawn, closing from ninth into a quick pace. She finished three lengths behind What a Fox, who has since become a two-time winner at the meet. Heavens Whisper, meanwhile, was launching her season last out. She put up career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 83 and it’s the best last-race number in the field Saturday.

“We got an out over the track, which is huge here at Oaklawn Park, in my opinion,” Caldwell said. “She ran huge her first race, and I think that race, going into this race Sunday, will help her a lot.

“It’s a tough group of horses. It’s a really, really nice group of horses, and she’s going to have to run her best race to win.”

Heavens Whisper will break from post 7 under Ramon Vazquez.

“I prefer where I’m at, to be on the outside,” Caldwell said. “She’s got tactical speed. She can sit right up close. Last time she came off the pace. It was pretty quick [fractions] that day.”

Emboldened exits the same race as Heavens Wish, finishing fifth in what was her first start since May. Joe Talamo has the mount on Emboldened from post 2 for Godolphin and trainer Brad Cox.

Wholehearted steps up in class off a runner-up finish in a $25,000 starter allowance Feb. 6 at Oaklawn. David Cohen has the mount from post 3 for M and M Racing and Diodoro.

Caldwell also owns Southern Phantom, who is something of a social media star because of his white face. He’s getting closer to running in a two-turn maiden race at Oaklawn.