On the Whim catches Proof He Rides late for California Dreamin' victory
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DEL MAR, Calif. - On the Whim had his stakes debut, first appearance in a race at 1 1/16 miles and first race at Del Mar in Saturday’s $152,500 California Dreamin’ Stakes for statebreds.
With only six races of experience, On the Whim handled the new assignments like a veteran.
Ridden by Abel Cedillo, On the Whim ($22) caught pacesetter Proof He Rides in the final furlong to win by 1 1/4 lengths as the fifth choice in a field of 11.
“It worked good for me,” Cedillo said. “I took my time. I left him alone.”
On the Whim was timed in 1:41.44 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 91.
Proof He Rides (12-1) finished second, a half-length in front of 13-1 None Above the Law, who was third in the 2023 California Dreamin' Stakes and won the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, and three other stakes, in 2021.
Proof He Rides, a winner of 6 of 12 starts who also had his stakes debut on Saturday, set a slow pace of 24.08 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.99 for a half-mile, leading by as much as 2 1/2 lengths under jockey Kyle Frey.
The advantage began to diminish in early stretch.
“He ran fantastic,” Frey said. “There wasn’t a single thing I could have to done to make it go my way.”
None Above the Law was followed in the order of finish by Carmelita’s Man, Coalinga Road, Old Pal, Passarando, Barely Funtional, Catalina Eddy, Oubabe and Disko Tribute.
Old Pal, the 5-2 favorite, closed from ninth under jockey Mike Smith to finish sixth, missing third by about a half-length. The race scenario left Smith frustrated.
“Paceless,” Smith said. “Paceless.”
On the Whim is trained by Dean Pederson, who also trains Carmelita’s Man, the winner of the California Dreamin’ Stakes in 2022 and 2023.
A 4-year-old gelding, On the Whim races for noted California owner and breeder John Harris, who attended the race. By Acclamation, On the Whim has won 3 of 7 starts and earned $164,740.
On the Whim won his debut in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita last October and his third start in an allowance race for California-breds on turf in January. The win in the California Dreamin’ Stakes ended a streak of losses in allowance races since early March.
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