Mr. Wireless, Stilleto Boy good buddies who can really run

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Mr. Wireless and Stilleto Boy could be considered brothers from another mother. The 3-year-old geldings were raised together, received their early training together, and finished a nose apart for separate trainers when running 1-2 in a maiden special weight March 27 at Oaklawn Park.

“It just doesn’t happen,” said John Kerber, who from two broodmares bred and owns both horses with his wife, Iveta.

“It was unbelievable,” said Iveta Kerber.

:: Bet horse racing on DRF Bets. Double Your First Deposit Up to $250. Join Now.

Stilleto Boy, by Shackleford, broke from post 6 in the field of 10. He set the pace and was edged by Mr. Wireless, a son of Dialed In who tracked in second after breaking from post 7. Each received a Beyer Speed Figure of 87.

“When they were going to be side by side in the gate,” Iveta Kerber said, “we were joking, saying, ‘Do you think they’re going to have a conversation?’ ”

Bret Calhoun trains Mr. Wireless and said the horse will be considered for the $300,000 Oaklawn Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on May 1.

“We’d like to give him plenty of time,” he said in early April. “He ran a really gutsy race. He ran really hard and came back very well. The more time we give him will be a benefit considering how hard he ran.”

Mr. Wireless was making his second start and first at two turns in the mile race, which went in 1:37. Stilleto Boy, who is trained by Doug Anderson, also was making his two-turn debut following a trio of sprint starts dating to October at Prairie Meadows.

“We’re just having a world of fun,” John Kerber said. “How could anybody have two 3-year-olds and have them run like that? And it wasn’t just a maiden race. I think it was the toughest maiden race they’ve had at the meet. They went awfully swift. It was a good time.”

The story got even better last Saturday, when Stilleto Boy came back and won a maiden special weight at Oaklawn. He wired his rivals at 1 1/16 miles and earned a Beyer of 85.

The Kerbers expect both horses to head to different circuits after Oaklawn.

◗ Necker Island makes his first start since running ninth in last year’s Kentucky Derby in Friday’s fourth race at Oaklawn. The conditioned allowance for 3-year-olds and up is at a mile. Necker Island was third in both the Grade 3 Indiana Derby and the Ellis Park Derby leading up to the Derby.