Photo by Dean Gillette
Whoomp, the freshman phenom from the Roger Welch barn, is back. Named Indiana’s Pacer of the Year last season as a two-year-old, the three-year-old daughter of Rockin Image made her second qualifying appearance Wednesday, May 13 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, picking up her first win.
Guided by John DeLong, Whoomp wasted no time out of the gate, heading straight to the lead. The pint-sized Incredible Luck driven by DeShawn Horton slipped in the two hole followed by Talk Softly and Marcus Miller. Whoomp led by open lengths through the quarter in :28.4 and half in :58.0. Talk Softly stayed as close as she could around the final turn before Whoomp took off, moving out to an eight and one-quarter length advantage at the wire in 1:52.3. She paced her final quarter in :26.2. Talk Softly moved up into second over Incredible Luck.
Whoomp is a homebred from the DeLong family breeding operation. She is owned by William DeLong, Wm. Patrick Delong, and Jesse Delong. William and Wm. Patrick bred her from the family’s mare Nightcap, a daughter of Sweet Lou who only made a couple of starts. However, she has turned out to be a great brood mare for the DeLongs. With three foals of racing age, she has three winners, including former Indiana Sires Stakes winner Teelatini with a mark of 1:49.4 and more than a half million on her card, and still racing. The other foal is Saba Rock, also still racing with a mark of 1:49.1 and more than $100,000 In earnings. The family has a two-year-old colt this year by Tellitlikeitis named Soggy Man and a yearling filly, also by Tellitlikeitis named Teelateton.
The DeLong family also had another winner on the day as Rock the Charm scored a win in her qualifier for Driver John DeLong. Trained by Tabatha DeLong, Rock the Charm moved to the lead around the final turn and pulled away by nearly five lengths in 1:52.3, a final quarter paced in :26.3. Brooklets Rockette and Kevin Lambright finished second over Fox Valley Tessa and Marcus Miller.
Rock the Charm is owned by Jesse, John, and William DeLong. Also a homebred, Jesse bred and raised the Rockin Image filly, who is out of their standout race mare Seventimesacharm, a winner in 1:51.0 with more than a quarter million in earnings. Rock the Charm is her first foal and took a mark last year of 1:51.2 and made more than $155,000. She has a two-year-old sister named Showmesevens by Best in Show and a yearling filly by Loubet named Charmielouwho. It was the second qualifier of the year for Rock the Charm, who has won both of them.
