Whittingham good fit for Royal Albert Hall

ARCADIA, Calif. – As a 1 1/4-mile race in May, Sunday’s $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita could be the ideal fit for Royal Albert Hall.

His trainer, Doug O’Neill, has had success with races at that distance this month, having won the Kentucky Derby with Nyquist at 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs. Royal Albert Hall is a contender to win his first stakes in the Grade 2 Whittingham on turf.

“Hopefully I can say we went from dirt to turf,” O’Neill said.

Royal Albert Hall is in the midst of a solid season. The 4-year-old gelding won an optional claimer at 1 1/4 miles on turf here on March 25, and was third in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Keeneland on April 23, closing steadily to finish a length behind winner Da Big Hoss.

“He ran huge,” O’Neill said. “He seems to be getting better with each race. He fits with those horses.”

The Whittingham drew a field of 10, including the multiple stakes winner Bal a Bali; Quick Casablanca, who won the San Juan Capistrano Handicap on April 10; and Finnegans Wake, the winner of the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs in 2015.

O’Neill has high hopes for Royal Albert Hall, and hopes to give him a try in the Breeders’ Cup Turf here in November.

“That would definitely be a goal if he continues to improve,” O’Neill said.