Whispering Hush seeks better break

DEL MAR, Calif. - Whispering Hush will start in Wednesday's $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes at Del Mar still a maiden and a 2-year-old filly with ample respect.

In her debut Aug. 1, Whispering Hush hopped at the start and then unleashed an eye-catching rally that carried her from last of seven on the turn to third at the finish.

The Generous Portion is the feature on a card with a $168,634 pick six carryover.

"She closed 11 1/2 lengths," trainer Eric Kruljac said.

The performance was enough for Kruljac and owners Tyler and Wayne Seltzer to enter Whispering Hush in the Generous Portion, which is run at six furlongs for 2-year-old statebred fillies.

Kruljac also entered La Nez, the runner-up in the CTBA Stakes here July 24. Kruljac said that La Nez will start only if Whispering Hush misses the race. "If Whispering Hush gets a fever or something, I'll run La Nez, but that won't happen," he said.

Instead, La Nez, co-owned by Kruljac, will be pointed to the California Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita on Oct. 10.

Whispering Hush's rally makes her a top contender for the Generous Portion, but the favorite will be Unbridled Meeting, winner of the at Golden Gate Fields on Aug. 15. She was third in the CTBA Stakes here July 24.

Trained by Walther Solis, Unbridled Meeting is the only filly in the race with two wins. She is expected to set the pace.

"I couldn't ask her to be better the way she's going to the race," Solis said. "I don't think there is anyone that can go with our kind of speed."

Unbridled Meeting was beaten three lengths in the CTBA Stakes after leading to early stretch under Joel Rosario. Solis dismissed the result because of a bad start.

"The ground broke out underneath her," he said. "Rosario rushed her to get the lead."

The first three finishers of Whispering Hush's debut race are in the Generous Portion. Magic Yodeler, who won that race, was making her third career start. Runner-up High Five Gal, who set the pace, was making her debut.

Magic Yodeler makes her stakes debut in the Generous Portion. She is one of four fillies in the field who won a maiden race in their last start.

"The added distance will help my filly," said Mike Harrington, who trains Magic Yodeler. "It seems to me she's got a good shot."