Two-for-two With Dignity looks stakes-bound

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – She only got a 74 Beyer Speed Figure, but the victory last Sunday by With Dignity at Churchill Downs was visually impressive nonetheless.

“We’ve had high hopes for her all along,” said Ian Wilkes, who trains homebred With Dignity for the Whitham Thoroughbreds of Janis Whitham and family. “It’s just taken patience to get her to this point.”

With Dignity, a 3-year-old filly by Declaration of War, was produced by Ivory Empress, making her a half-sister to McCraken, who won four stakes for the Whithams in 2016-17, including three at Churchill. Her 3 1/4-length triumph on Sunday kept With Dignity unbeaten in two races and was her first try around two turns, following a similarly eye-catching unveiling in a May 11 maiden sprint (76 Beyer). Wilkes has a career win percentage of 4 with first-time starters (22 for 558), making her debut all the more noteworthy.

“We’re looking at one of these Grade 3 stakes coming up,” said Wilkes, alluding to the July 5 Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows or the July 13 Indiana Oaks at Indiana Grand.

With Dignity was ridden by Julien Leparoux, who was winning for the 900th time at Churchill, becoming the seventh jockey in track history to reach that milestone. Pat Day is the all-time Churchill leader with 2,482 wins.