Midnight Jostar gets more ground in Wildcat Stakes

PHOENIX – After a big allowance win in March 2023 at Santa Anita, Midnight Jostar got a shot at the deep end of the pool in the Grade 2 Charlie Whittingham last April. Alas, he fell in the lane and wasn’t seen again for 10 months.

When he resurfaced going a mile Feb. 11 at Santa Anita, he didn’t run badly, biding his time and staying on for fifth. The 7-year-old son of Midnight Lute gets back to a longer distance and the stakes ranks as he leads Thursday’s $60,000 Wildcat Stakes at Turf Paradise. The 1 3/8-mile grass event for 3-year-olds and up drew a field of eight and goes as race 6 on a 10-race card.

Owned by Slam Dunk Racing and trained by Vladimir Cerin, Midnight Jostar did plenty of good from 2021 until the Whittingham debacle. He’s been working steadily for this race, and Diego Herrera, who was up for that encouraging Feb. 11 try, comes with him for the ride.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Kennebec, a 6-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky, comes here sharp for owner Sergio Salguero and trainer Jose Silva Jr. He won two straight synthetic starts at Golden Gate this winter before finishing fifth on that footing March 3. He came to Turf Paradise on March 28 to impressively beat a nice allowance bunch as the even-money favorite. That race was at a mile, so this distance is a new wrinkle for him. He obviously likes it here, however, with a career record of 3-2-1-0 on the Turf Paradise turf.

Mr. Who, a 7-year-old gelded son of Kantharos owned by Kirk Sutherland and also trained by Silva, set the pace before finishing second to Kennebec in that March 28 allowance race. Like his stablemate, he’s dealing with a new, longer trip, but his speed may well put him on the lead. Going this far he’s liable to slow things down significantly early, leaving him fuel for the final furlongs.

Yankee Dollar is a 5-year-old mare facing the boys, but she comes here sharp off two straight wins, including a stakes tally on this course March 14.

Nashville Skyline steps up in class after a monster 6 3/4-length claiming win on this course March 28.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.