Whelen Springs put away rival Trademark in deep stretch on his way to posting a half-length victory in the G3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, 19 August.
The Iselin Stakes win marked the first Graded Stakes score for the four-year-old Street Sense colt, who captured the both the Listed Bachelor Stakes and Rainbow Stakes as a three-year-old last year at Oaklawn Park.
Whelen Springs, who entered the race off a sharp runner-up finish to G1 winner Proxy in last month’s G3 Monmouth Cup, broke alertly and was settled into third, stalking the early leaders Zozos and Trademark. Whelen Springs made his bid on the far turn, making his move on the frontrunners while racing three-wide.
Whelen Springs quickly drew alongside Trademark to battle for the lead, as Zozos threw in the towel and began to fade. In the final furlong it was Whelen Springs and Trademark slugging it out, with Whelen Springs getting the advantage late and edging clear for the victory.
Whelen Springs was bred in Arkansas and races for his owner, Shortleaf Stable. He is out of the Pure Prize mare, Holy Nova, winner of the G3 Ballerina Stakes. Holy Nova is a half-sister to Stakes-placed Spitfire Wind, and hails from the family of Graded Stakes winners Kyle’s Our Man (G2) and Aspen Rose (G2).
In addition to Whelen Springs, Street Sense is represented by additional 2023 Graded Stakes winners Never Explain (G3 Dinner Party Stakes) and First Mission (G3 Lexington Stakes); along with Stakes winners Road Bloc (Listed Jebel Ali Sprint), Baytown Chatterbox (Ellis Park Juvenile) and Notary (Outbound Ike Handicap).
