Last year, Wigmore Hall shipped to the United States from Europe to contest a pair of prestigious grade I races in North American -- the Arlington Million and the Northern Dancer Stakes. While he could only manage a fourth-place finish in the first-mentioned race, he rebounded in good fashion to win the Northern Dancer by a neck. This year, Wigmore Hall's American campaign has been very similar -- following up a seventh-place finish in the Arlington Million with a repeat victory in the Northern Dancer, once again winning by a neck.
With jockey Jamie Spencer aboard, Wigmore Hall did not get off to a very good start, coming out of the gate a step slowly before settling into the seventh position early on. In the meantime, Irish Mission and Celtic Conviction exchange the lead through slow fractions of :24.85, :50.15, and 1:14.83 seconds. Scalo, Ojibway Signal, and Al Khali were racing in mid-pack, followed by Musketier, Wigmore Hall, and Forte Dei Marmi.
Rounding the far turn, Irish Mission made a bold run to take command and passed the quarter pole with a one-length lead. But Al Khali and Wigmore Hall were charging as a pair on the outside, and the pair soon over the top spots while dueling with each other for the victory. Passing the eighth pole it was Al Khali on top by a head, but Wigmore Hall was able to wear him down late to win the race in gritty fashion, stopping the clock for the twelve furlongs on turf in 2:28.28.
Forte Dei Marmi put in a good late run to finish third, followed by Scalo, Irish Mission, Musketier, Ojibway Signal, and Celtic Conviction.
The winner is a gelded son of High Chaparral out of the Theatrical mare Love And Laughter. Trained by Michael Bell and owned by Mark B. Hawtin, Wigmore Hall has compiled a record a 7-4-3 from 27 starts with earnings of $1,952,744.
-Keelerman
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