Page 163 - August 2021

Cafe continues her incredible winning streak of 8-for-8, there is no telling how many others will join in.
Everyone had plenty to watch in the Rainbow Oaks. After winning her trial by 1-length and qualifying the fourth fastest
in her first start since winning last fall’s All American Futurity-G1, Whistle Stop Cafe went into the final as the 9-10 favorite.
She was facing some talented three-
year-old fillies. Valiant Stars ran second to Empressum in the Ruidoso Derby-G1, and now Empressum could win the Derby Triple Crown. HR Princess Jess finished third
behind Empressum and Candy Blood in the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby-RG2, and Candy Blood qualified the fastest for the Rainbow Derby-G1, won by Empressum. Paint Me Tres is a double stakes winner.
With jockey Tanner Thedford aboard in the Rainbow Oaks final, Whistle Stop Cafe broke from the rail position on the lead. She never let anyone really get close, though Valiant Stars tried mightily. At the wire, Whistle Stop Cafe scored by a 1/2-length in :21.379 for 440 yards.
“I thought it was perfect,” said Lainie. “When she broke on top, I felt very confident that she was going to win it. But there were so many nice, nice horses in there.”
The Rainbow Oaks set up Whistle Stop Cafe perfectly for the All American, either the Derby or the Oaks.
“We went to see her after the race, and she was fine,” said Lainie. “She was in a hurry to go eat grass. She looks amazing.”
Trey and Blane Wood train Whistle Stop Cafe. They have cared for her since help- ing the Whitmires buy her for $42,000 at the 2019 Heritage Place Yearling Sale from breeder Bobby Cox.
Last year at two prior to her All American Futurity victory, Whistle Stop Cafe won
the Heritage Place Juvenile and Rainbow Futurity-G1. The Whitmires decided to give the filly an extended vacation following the All American, leaving her with the Woods and not even disturbing her routine to pull embryos.
“She didn’t have to do anything,” said Lainie. “She doesn’t owe us anything. She has plenty of time later to have babies. I don’t want to be greedy with her.”
The Woods had Whistle Stop Cafe in light training during the Remington Park meeting, and Lainie said that the team considered the Heritage Place Derby-G2. Ultimately, however, they decided to wait for Ruidoso.
Whistle Stop Cafe has a home with the Whitmires forever. Lainie only half-jokingly talks about how many retirees they have at their ranch, one of them age 35.
Cox bred Whistle Stop Cafe in Texas from his homebred stakes-placed Sinuous. Cox raced Grade 1 winner No Fees, Whistle Stop Cafe’s second dam, in partnership. Sinuous has produced 10 winners from 15 starters,
including Graded stakes winners So Rapido and Marfilmio and stakes-placed Canonball Run, Mansory, and Bigtime Connoisseur.
Noe Garcia Jr. rode Valiant Stars (Valiant Hero-Cluster Of Stars TB) to second for trainer owner Stone Chase Stables LLC and trainer Fred Danley. J & SM Inc.
Miss Famous Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Ms Southern Dynasty), ridden by Benito Baca, trained by Michael Joiner, and owned by LMG Racing Inc., finished third at 29-1. In nine previous starts, the filly has won once, with two seconds and two thirds.
Completing the field were Paint Me
Tres (Tres Seis-Paint Me Anywhere), Elphaba (Kiss My Hocks-Witchs Streak), Packsaddle Senator (Louisiana Senator- Eyes A Shazoom), Caliente Caramelo (Jess Good Candy-Pandorum), HR Princess Jess (Apollitical Jess-HR Ebony Princess), Ynot The Favorite (Favorite Cartel-Ynot Bar), and Best Moonflash (First Moonflash-Thebest Isyet Tocome).
RACING NEWS
Whiste Stop Cafe’s winning connections include owner Whitmire Ranch, trainer Trey Wood and jockey Tanner Thedford.
Whiste Stop Cafe’s owners Lauren, Lainie & Ray Whitmire.
SPEEDHORSE August 2021 161
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse
Ruidoso Downs