Wholehearted rallies to win the Wilma Mankiller Stakes

Wholehearted was claimed for $25,000 in November and in April she became a stakes winner, capturing the $50,000 Wilma Mankiller by about two lengths Monday at Will Rogers Downs.

Trained by Robertino Diodoro for M and M Racing, Wholehearted got a sweet trip under Ty Kennedy as she pushed past pacesetting Drip Brew at about the sixteenth pole and went onto a decisive victory. As Drip Brew went an opening quarter-mile in 22.21 seconds, Wholehearted sat at the back of the pack, moving into better position past the half-mile pole as Kennedy saved ground near the inside. At the top of the stretch, his mount full of run, Kennedy steered right, got Wholehearted outside the horses still in front of her, and she ran them down with a determined finish.

Off a half-mile in 45.23 and five furlongs in 57.61, Wholehearted, who paid $6.40 as the second choice, clocked 1:10.02 for six furlongs on a fast track. Drip Brew, who was 9-1, fought on and nipped 32-1 shot Ima Discreet Lady for second. Estilo Feminino, the 3-2 favorite, raced from the back and never made more than the most tepid move, failing to reach contention at any point in the race. Obsolete and Country Daisy were scratched.

Diodoro and M and M claimed Wholehearted last fall at Churchill Downs, gave her a winter freshening, and got three good Oaklawn races out of the 6-year-old mare before Monday’s victory. Wholehearted is by Awesome Again and out of My Baby Baby, by Bernstein.

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