Trainer Lynn Whiting Gets 300th Churchill Downs Victory

May 30, 2009 Gary Yunt

Lynn Whiting, who saddled Lil E Tee to victory in the 1992 Kentucky Derby, on Friday became the 10^th trainer to win 300 races at Churchill Downs when Action Seeker rallied to win the eighth race.

Whiting, a native of Great Falls, Mont., has won 13 stakes at Churchill Downs in a training career that began in 1969. Whiting joins Tom Amoss as the second trainer this meet to reach the 300-win milestone at the track.

Ridden by Jamie Theriot, Action Seeker ($9.40) overhauled Duke of Pearl by a head to give Whiting his milestone victory.

In Friday’s featured $47,745 Pumpkin Purse for 3-year-olds and up, Custom for Carlos swept past Western Prospector at the head of the stretch and drew off for a six-length victory under Julien Leparoux.

         Owned by Homewrecker Racing and Avalon Farms, and trained by Eddie Kenneally, Custom for Carlos covered the six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:09.37.

          The victory for the 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of More Than Ready was worth $30,580 and increased Custom for Carlos’ earnings to $76,090 with his second win in five starts.

          The favorite in the field of six, Custom for Carlos returned $3.80, $2.60 and $2.10. Western Prospector, ridden by Calvin Borel, returned $3.60 and $2.40. Posse Cat, who finished another three-quarters of a length back in third under Jon Court, paid $2.20 to show.

 Racing resumes Saturday with an 11-race card that features two stakes races: the 35^th running of the $100,000-added Dogwood (Grade III) for 3-year-old fillies going a mile on the main track and the 21^st running of the $100,000-added Aristides (Grade III) for sprinters going six furlongs on the main track.

          First post time is 12:45 p.m. EDT.