Whiskey Decision. (Susie Raisher)
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Fred W. Hertrich, lll, and John D. Fielding’s Kentucky homebred Whiskey Decision rallied to provide trainer Chad Brown with his record-extending 10th win in Sunday’s Listed $150,000 Athenia, a nine-furlong inner turf test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Belmont at the Big A.
The five-time Eclipse Award-winning Brown’s past Athenia scores include Pianist [2013], Roca Rojo [2016], Off Limits [2017], Rymska [2018], Tapit Today [2020], Pocket Square [2021], Love And Thunder [2022], Technical Analysis [2023] and Child of the Moon [2024] – good for six consecutive runnings of the race.
The 4-year-old Into Mischief bay was making her third start for Brown after winning the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Eatontown on June 14 at Monmouth Park ahead of a last-out fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Ballston Spa on August 8 at Saratoga Race Course. Whiskey Decision made her other seven starts last year for trainer Arnaud Delacour, highlighted by a win in the nine-furlong Christiana in July at Delaware Park.
Piloted by Flavien Prat, Whiskey Decision broke smoothly from post 4, but settled off the pace as Edict started sharpest from the inside post before being overtaken by the speedy New York-bred Spinning Colors through an opening quarter-mile in 23.21 seconds over the firm turf.
“I figured there would be some pace – at least the first quarter,” Prat said. “She got herself into the race and I was able to get her down the fence and I thought I was behind good horses.”
Moonage Daydream then applied some pressure to the inside of Spinning Colors while Edict held a clear third position with Whiskey Decision saving ground just inside of her. Prat remained patient as Awesome Czech improved to his outside approaching the half-mile in 48.01.
“I was happy where I was,” said Prat. “It felt like the whole way around we kind of slowed it down, but when I was able to tip her out, she gave me a good run.”
Edict took a clear second position down the backside to the outside of Moonage Daydream while Whiskey Decision was fifth, as Spinning Colors marked three-quarters in 1:13.03.
At the top of the lane, Kendrick Carmouche urged Edict to go by Spinning Colors, but the pacesetter dug in and through one mile in 1:37.25, it was still anyone’s race. Within the eighth-pole, Edict headed Spinning Colors as New York-breds Moonage Daydream dove to the rail and Awesome Czech attempted to rally down the center of the course.
“As soon as we turned for home, I was able to tip her out,” Prat said. “Without waiting, I was able to swing her out and let her run. She had a good kick.”
Edict held off a slew of the forwardly placed contenders, but with a sweeping five-wide move, Whiskey Decision stormed to the wire outside of her rivals for a 1 1/4-length victory in a final time of 1:48.60.
Awesome Czech finished third a half-length back of Edict, with Spinning Colors holding on for fourth. Moonage Daydream finished close behind in fifth to the inside, with longshots Flowers for Me, the slow-starting Lady Firefoot and Dreaming of Abba completing the order of finish.
Main track-only entrants Amanda’s Folly, Midtown Lights and Just Music were scratched.
“It didn’t feel like we went slow but the whole way around it felt like we were slowing down,” Prat said. “The three-quarters was 1:13, so all the way around it felt like we kind of eased up, and so we sprinted home. From where she was, it was good to get the job done.”
Carmouche said the David Donk-trained Edict was game in defeat. The dual Argentinian Group 1-winner Edict was searching for her first stateside victory in her seventh try.
“I got her to relax, and she wasn’t too anxious to do anything,” Carmouche said. “I was sitting in a perfect spot the whole way. I thought I had horse the whole way. She ran great.”
Donk was pleased to see the 5-year-old Il Campione bay rebound from a trio of off-the-board efforts at Saratoga Race Course dating to the Grade 1 New York presented by Rivers Casino on June 6.
“I just wanted to get back on track here today,” Donk said. “She’s a very high energy filly and Saratoga didn’t suit her that way with the paddock and the post parade, but that’s what it is. We’re New York guys, and it was fun to see her run well today.
“Kendrick gave her a great ride. She was second best, and at the end of the day, there’s nothing wrong with being second,” Donk added.
Whiskey Decision, out of the Distorted Humor mare Funny Song, banked $82,500 in victory while improving her record to 10-5-0-0 and returning $4.24 for a $2 win bet as the even-money post-time favorite. Her second dam, Music Room, is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Music Note as well as dual Grade/Group 1-winner Musical Chimes.
Live racing resumes Thursday at Belmont at the Big A with an eight-race card, featuring the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory Handicap in Race 1. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
