Mondego and Emisael Jaramillo outfinished Flashiest to prevail by a half-length in the $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2T) for older horses going 1 1/4 miles May 2 at Santa Anita Park.
For Mondego, Jaramillo has proven to be a difference-maker. Trained by Michael McCarthy, the 6-year-old gelding had been 0-for-8 in graded stakes before Jaramillo took over this winter. He promptly guided Mondego to his first graded stakes win in the San Marcos Stakes (G3T), also at 1 1/4 miles. The pair has now added a win in the marquee long-distance turf race of the season at Santa Anita.
Balladeer ridden by Kent Desormeaux and the longest price on the board at 8-1, went to the lead and set a pace of :23.99, :47.18, and 1:11.76 for 6 furlongs, as Flashiest tracked in second and Mondego settled in fourth. Flashiest ran past Balladeer entering the second turn, just as Jaramillo was also beginning his move on Mondego. Near the quarter pole, Mondeo ranged up to challenge Flashiest. That pair battled to the wire with Mondego ultimately edging clear for the victory. The final time was 1:59.99.
"There was no traffic. It was beautiful," Jaramillo said.
The Padre, the 7-10 favorite trained by Phil D'Amato, finished 1 length back of Flashiest in third. Hiding in Honduras and Balladeer completed the order of finish.
Bred in Great Britain, Mondego is by Lope de Vega and is owned by Cheyenne Stable. The win improved his record to 5-1-4 in 21 starts with $539,047 in earnings.
With McCarthy at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby (G1) program Saturday, Mondego was saddled by his assistant Chelsie Raabe.
"This is his best distance," Raabe said. "I think we had a couple of really good starts earlier in the year, but we have kind of found that this is his sweet spot, so we just let him do his thing."
McCarthy previously won the Whittingham in 2023 with Offlee Naughty.
Mondego paid $7.60 as the 5-2 second choice.
