Whistle Pig rallies to take Lyman

A return to statebred company and a hot pace duel proved the winning combination for Whistle Pig ($22.40) in the $75,000 Lyman Sprint Handicap at Philadelphia Park.

Badly beaten in his first two starts of the season facing open company in second-level allowances, the 4-year-old Whistle Pig was dropped in class to face Pennsylvania-breds for the first time since winning the Lil E Tee Handicap over the Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs last September.

When 2-1 second choice Banjo Picker and 6-5 favorite Sonvida Red dueled each other into defeat, racing the first six furlongs in 1:10.39, Whistle Pig came flying in the stretch under Joe Hampshire Jr. to draw clear by 1 1/4 lengths, covering seven furlongs on a track rated good in 1:24.05.

Joey Carson, the 9-2 third choice in a field of eight older sprinters, rallied to nip Sonvida Red by a nose for second.

Trained by Andrew Carter for the HACK Stable, Whistle Pig has now won 5 of 18 lifetime and $224.914.