Whelen Springs named top Arkansas-bred of 2023

Whelen Springs, who won last year’s Grade 3 Philip Iselin at Monmouth Park, will be honored as the 2023 Arkansas-bred of the Year during a Friday night banquet at the Oaklawn Event Center, said Deana Echols, executive secretary of the Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association.

Whelen Springs earned $282,530 last year. His dam, Holy Nova, will be the broodmare of the year, said Echols. Shortleaf Stable, who bred and races Whelen Springs, will accept both awards. Lindsay Schultz trains Whelen Springs. She said he was given a couple of months off beginning in December.

“He is jogging at Keeneland,” she said. “He’s now back training.”

Schultz has horses at Oaklawn, too, and following the meet will be taking runners to Monmouth. Whelen Springs is a 5-year-old by Street Sense.

Oaklawn’s new announcer, Matt Dinerman, will be the guest speaker during the banquet, which starts at 6 p.m. Central. Tickets are available at the door and are $70. Eric Jackson, the senior vice president of Oaklawn, will be giving a short presentation at the event, said Echols.

The ATBHA also will honor Bill McDowell as the 2023 Breeder of the Year and Randy Patterson’s Street Strategy as stallion of the year, said Echols.

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