Marckie's Water back in sharp form for Whittingham

ARCADIA, Calif. – Everyone knows the meaning of an entrapped epiglottis thanks to 3-year-old Omaha Beach. What might be less clear is the effect of corrective throat surgery.

Marckie’s Water offers a prime example. The 5-year-old is favored to win the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, which might seem an unlikely position considering Marckie’s Water finished last in a statebred stakes race in January.

“He entrapped,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “It can happen any time.”

An endoscopic exam after the Unusual Heat Turf Classic Jan. 26 revealed the breathing impediment, and Baltas scheduled a corrective procedure for Marckie’s Water. “We did surgery, like the horse of Mandella’s,” Baltas said, referring to Richard Mandella-trained Omaha Beach.

What happened next with Marckie’s Water is what horsemen hope happens following throat surgery. Two months after he finished last, Marckie’s Water returned to finish third in a Grade 2, followed by a powerful victory in which he raced the final three furlongs of a nine-furlong turf allowance in a blistering 34.55 seconds.

:: MEMORIAL DAY SALE: Save 50% on Formulator PPs, DRF Plus access, and handicapping reports

Marckie’s Water can breathe easy, literally and figuratively, because he meets an undistinguished field in the $200,000 Whittingham. The seventh race on the card at 1 1/4 miles on turf, the field includes likely pacesetter Prime Attraction, 8-year-old Ashleyluvssugar, along with Morse Code, Ya Gotta Wanna, United, and Tizzarunner.

Marckie’s Water and jockey Tiago Pereira will rally from off the pace over a turf course that recently favored speed. Rain this week could change the profile.

Bias or not, Prime Attraction looms a gate-to-wire threat third start back from a layoff while dropping from Grade 1’s. Kent Desormeaux rides Prime Attraction for trainer Jim Cassidy.

Ashleyluvssugar figures for a great trip positioned second. If the pacesetter falters, Ashleyluvssugar would get first run in his bid for a third Whittingham victory. He won in 2015 and 2017, but at age 8, his speed figures have declined.

“He doesn’t run big ones as often,” trainer Peter Eurton acknowledged. Ashleyluvssugar will be ridden by Brice Blanc.

KEY CONTENDERS

Marckie’s Water, by Tribal Rule
Last 3 Beyers: 93-94-80

◗ He is from the penultimate crop by Tribal Rule, once among California’s leading stallions. Tribal Rule died in 2014 while covering a mare.

Ashleyluvssugar, by Game Plan
Last 3 Beyers: 91-87-92

◗ He enters as the field’s most accomplished runner with 10 wins and $1,446,583 from 33 starts.

Prime Attraction, by Unbridled’s Song
Last 3 Beyers: 86-93-96

◗ In his comeback, he set the pace in the Santa Anita Handicap on dirt before tiring to fifth. Last out, he was unplaced in the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs. Jim Cassidy trains the 4-for-22 front-runner.

United, by Giant’s Causeway
Last 3 Beyers: 88-92-75

◗ The Richard Mandella trainee is eligible to a second-level allowance, such as race 10 Saturday. The lightly raced 4-year-old gelding has won two of six starts.