Wicked Whisper wears down Ain't No Elmers to win Miss Preakness Stakes

After ranking as one of the top 2-year-old fillies in the country last year, Wicked Whisper hadn’t come back to her best form this year after requiring an eight-month layoff following the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. But in her third start of 2020 on Saturday at Pimlico, she showed she was headed back in the right direction with a victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes for 3-year-old female sprinters.

Wicked Whisper got a ground-saving ride from Joe Bravo, who was inside favored Mundaye Call and behind the dueling leaders, Ain't No Elmers and Fly On Angel, for the first half-mile of the six-furlong race. She gamely split rivals in upper stretch and in the late going got the best of Ain't No Elmers, prevailing by one length.

Wicked Whisper ($12.60) covered six furlongs on the fast main track in 1:10.36.

Ain't No Elmers put away Fly On Angel following splits of 23.08 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.78 for the half, and was under pressure the whole way owing to her rail draw, but went down stubbornly. She finished three-quarters of a length in front of Sound Machine, who ran on late for third.

Mundaye Call, the 1-2 favorite, was seemingly without an excuse. She was third, just behind and outside the dueling leaders, and ranged up menacingly on the turn, but had nothing to offer the final furlong and finished 2 3/4 lengths behind Sound Machine. Mundaye Call had finished fourth of five in the Grade 2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day following a romping win in the Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park.

Princess Cadey, Fly On Angel, and Ankle Monitor completed the finish of the Miss Preakness.

Wicked Whisper, a daughter of Liam’s Map whom Steve Asmussen trains for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, won her first two starts last year, most significantly the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park. She was one of the top contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but tired to finish fifth of nine over a demanding surface at Santa Anita. Horses exiting that race and the Juvenile the same day have largely struggled to find their best form since.

“It’s beautiful to see her show the quality that she’s always had,” Asmussen told Pimlico publicity. “Joe gave her a great trip today. There are big things in her future.”

Wicked Whisper has now won three times in six starts. Earlier this year, she was fourth in the Beaumont at Keeneland in her first start off the layoff, then second in the Charles Town Oaks, both Grade 3 sprints. She earned $90,000 on Saturday to bring her career bankroll to $463,300.