Restless Youth appreciates shorter assignment

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Restless Youth, cutting back in distance after recent turf routes, broke sharply and was never headed as he won the $62,300 Sam J. Whiting Memorial Handicap on closing day at the Alameda County Fair on Sunday.

Jiggly, the 6-5 favorite in a field of four, acted up a bit when he first went into the gate and hopped at the start as Restless Youth went immediately to the front and claimed an open lead.

Restless Youth ($7.20) was able to cruise through fast fractions and to withstand a strong challenge by Jiggly into the lane, winning the six-furlong race by three-quarters of a length in 1:08.46. Paul's Hope was another four lengths back in third, edging Kelly Leak by a nose.

"The race set up absolutely perfectly, but it had to for us to win," said trainer Roger Hansen, who won his second straight Whiting for owner Kjell Qvale after capturing the race with Tribesman last year.

"I felt pretty good to the quarter pole, but I was worried through the stretch because Jiggly caught up to us pretty fast. He was totally fit coming out of those routes, and that really helped."

The victory, worth $40,000, was the ninth in 29 career starts for the 7-year-old Restless Youth, whose earnings are now $318,002.