Atitlan Prevails in Tight Finish in Charles Whittingham

Atitlan makes it back-to-back graded stakes scores with a narrow victory in the $200,500 Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2T) May 3 at Santa Anita Park. Racing in midpack for most of the 1 1/4-mile journey, favored Atitlan advanced turning for home before overtaking Packs a Wahlop and holding sway over a closing Dicey Mo Chara (GB) at the wire. Atitlan ($3.20) prevailed by a head, stopping the timer in 1:59.92 over a firm turf course. Packs a Wahlop finished another head in front of Dicey Mo Chara in third. "This horse has been getting very confident, and he was traveling comfortably," jockey Hector Berrios said. "He needed more pace, so I tried to be closer to the front and made an earlier move. He really fought on strong in the stretch." Atitlan, a 4-year-old son of The Factor, is owned by John M. B. O'Connor and trained by John Shirreffs.