Offlee Naughty rallies in final furlong of Charles Whittingham Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Offlee Naughty avoided a fallen rival in early stretch and rallied in the final furlong to win his first stakes in Saturday’s Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes on turf at Santa Anita.

The race was marred when Midnight Jostar slipped and fell, unseating jockey Kent Desormeaux in early stretch. Midnight Jostar was quickly on his feet and ran down the stretch. He was caught by an outrider and walked to the stables, track stewards said.

Desormeaux walked off the track and was cleared to continue riding after he was examined at the track’s first aid department. Desormeaux rode Dazzlemesilver to a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, the race following the $200,500 Whittingham Stakes.

The Whittingham was the second and final turf race of the day. The eighth, 10th and 12th races were transferred to dirt by track management because of concern over footing on the turf course. The decision was announced at 2:29 p.m, 25 minutes after the Whittingham was run.

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Offlee Naughty ($25.20) was the longest shot in a field of six. Ridden by John Velazquez, Offlee Naughty closed from last into a slow pace to reach the front in the final strides, winning by a length.

Offlee Naughty ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in 2:02.45 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 95.

Offlee Naughty was racing behind Midnight Jostar and slightly to the inside when Midnight Jostar fell. Always clear of that incident, Velazquez moved Offlee Naughty closer to the leaders in the stretch.

“I went to the inside and I got him going,” Velazquez said. “I moved him back to the outside and he responded right away.”

Offlee Naughty caught pacesetter Dicey Mo Chara in deep stretch. A 9-2 chance, Dicey Mo Chara, who set a slow pace of 25.20 seconds and 50.63 seconds, finished three-quarters of a length in front of 6-1 Opry.

Gold Phoenix, the 8-5 favorite, finished fourth, followed by Masterofoxhounds.

Gold Phoenix was last briefly on the turn, and failed to launch a rally, losing by 2 1/2 lengths.

Offlee Naughty, a 5-year-old horse by Flashback, races for James and Donna Daniell and trainer Michael McCarthy. Offlee Naughty has won 4 of 16 starts and earned $310,645. The Whittingham was his first appearance in a stakes since a fourth in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita in March 2012.

The Whittingham was Offlee Naughty’s first start of 2023 since he won an allowance race at Turfway Park in December.

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