Invader Whisper Not Edges Local Hero Keeper Ofthe Stars in San Francisco Mile

BERKELEY, CA – Southern California invader Whisper Not edged the local hero Keeper Ofthe Stars to win Saturday’s $250,000 San Francisco Mile Stakes (G3) at Golden Gate Fields.

Whisper Not broke from post 3 under Geovanni Franco as the 7/5 favorite and settled into an outside stalking position in third heading into the clubhouse turn.

78/1 longshot Diamond Blitz took off to a lengthy early lead and posted opening fractions of :23.54, :46.58, and 1:11.02 before running out of gas by the top of the stretch.

Whisper Not ranged up to make a three-wide bid outside of the field’s lone female Keeper Ofthe Stars and the two quickly separated from their rivals, knocking heads the length of the stretch.

The Richard Baltas-trained Whisper Not poked his head in front in the shadow of the wire before stopping the clock for the firm turf route in 1:35.94.

“(Whisper Not) broke very sharp out of the gate,” Franco said. “I figured they were going a little quick up front and he relaxed really nice up the backside. Once he started eyeballing his targets, he knew it was time to go.”

Keeper Ofthe Stars was 2 lengths clear of Restrainedvengence, who nipped Brown Storm and Border Town by a nose and a 1/2-length, respectively.

Ohio, Kiwi’s Dream, and Diamond Blitz completed the order of finish.

Whisper Not’s win was his first at the stakes level and second straight following a Santa Anita Allowance score on March 6. The British-bred 4-year-old Poet’s Voice colt’s record now stands at 10-4-2-1 with $253,292 earned for co-owners Electric City Racing, Madaket Stables, Christopher Dunn, and Jeremy Peskoff.

Whisper Not returned $4.80 to win, $3.20 to place, and $2.40 to show. Keeper Ofthe Stars brought back $5.60 to place and $4.40 to show. Restrainedvengence paid $3.60 to show.