After wins in turf stakes at 1 1/4 miles and 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita this spring, including the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Sakes last Saturday, Atitlan will have a different assignment later this month.
Trainer John Shirreffs said on Wednesday that the 4-year-old is scheduled to start in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on May 26. The $300,000 Shoemaker will be Atitlan’s first start at the distance since finishing third by 1 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on Dec. 26.
Shirreffs said the decision is based on enhancing Atitlan’s value as a stallion.
“That would add to his resume,” Shirreffs said of a potential win. “It could further his career after racing. He’s been going so well. This will be a complete turnaround. We’ll have to see how he trains up to it.”
Atitlan, who races for John O’Connor, is by The Factor and has won 4 of 10 starts for earnings of $420,000. The win in the $200,500 Whittingham was preceded by a victory in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on March 22. Last October, Atitlan won the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles.
In the Whittingham Stakes, Atitlan closed from fourth in a field of six to win by a head over Packs a Wahlop and emerged from the race in good condition, Shirreffs said.
“He closed really well,” Shirreffs said. “He’s as happy as he can be.”
The wins in the San Luis Rey and Whittingham mark the only time Atitlan has won consecutive starts since his career began last May. He won a maiden race at a mile on turf at Del Mar last July in his first start on the surface.
Shirreffs missed watching Atitlan’s win in the Whittingham, with a very good excuse. The race was run 25 minutes before the Shirreffs-trained Baeza closed from 15th to finish third in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Shirreffs watched a replay of the Whittingham later on Saturday.