Atitlan Shoots For Back-To-Back Graded Stakes Wins In Saturday’s Grade II Charles Whittingham Stakes For Older Horses Going 1 ¼ Miles On Turf At Santa Anita

ATITLAN SHOOTS FOR BACK-TO-BACK GRADED STAKES WINS IN SATURDAY’S GRADE II CHARLES WHITTINGHAM STAKES FOR OLDER HORSES GOING 1 ¼ MILES ON TURF AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (April 30, 2025)—After winning last month’s GIII San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita, Atitlan will look to make it back-to-back graded victories for trainer John Shirreffs when he takes on six rivals in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes for older horses going 1 ¼ miles on turf at Santa Anita.

In the 1 ½-mile San Luis Rey on March 23, Atitlan rallied from off the pace and kicked clear late to earn a comfortable two-length victory. It was the second graded-stakes win for the 4-year-old colt by The Factor. Last year, Atitlan won the GII Twilight Derby going 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita.

Atitlan sports a record of 9: 3-0-3 with $300,000 in earnings for owner John M. O’Connor. Jockey Hector Berrios, who was aboard for both of Atitlan’s graded wins, will again be in the irons.

Set to make his stakes debut is City Exile, who will be stretching out in distance for trainer Phil D’Amato. City Exile most recently rallied to be second by a half-length in a second-level allowance going a mile on turf April 5 at Santa Anita.

A 5-year-old gelding by Cityscape, City Exile was bred in Great Britain where he made seven starts before being imported to the U.S. for the 2024 season. He has an overall record of 14: 2-4-2 with $131,992 in earnings. City Exile, who is campaigned domestically by CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff, will be ridden by Tiago Pereira for the first time.

Veteran Dicey Mo Chara will be running in the Whittingham for the fourth consecutive year for trainer Leonard Powell. Owned by Red Baron’s Barn or Rancho Temescal, Dicey Mo Chara finished second in the 2023 Whittingham and was off the board in last year’s edition. The 7-year-old gelding by Adaay has a record of 29: 4-7-4 with $658,777 in earnings. He will have Armando Ayuso aboard for the first time.

__THE GII WHITTINGHAM WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER __

Race 6 of 10 Approximate post time 3:38 p.m. PT

1. Wizard Of Westwood – Kyle Frey – 120
2. Dicey Mo Chara – Armando Ayuso – 120
3. City Exile – Tiago Pereira – 120
4. Maltese Falcon – Drayden Van Dyke – 120
5. Packs A Wahlop – Raylu Gutierrez – 120
6. Balladeer – Kent Desormeaux – 120
7. Aititlan – Hector Berrios - 122

First post Saturday is at 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.