Badge of Silver on target for Louisiana Derby

NEW ORLEANS - Badge of Silver turned in another brilliant work on Sunday at Fair Grounds and is on target for his scheduled start Sunday in the Louisiana Derby.

Working alone with jockey Robby Albarado up, Badge of Silver posted splits of 12.20 seconds, 25, 37.60, 49.40 and 1:00.80 on his way to a final six-furlong time of 1:12.60, an extremely fast work for this racetrack. Badge of Silver was timed galloping out seven furlongs in 1:27. Badge of Silver ran his final furlong in less than 12 seconds and final quarter in less than 24 seconds.

"It was perfect, absolutely just what I wanted," said Ronny Werner, who trains Badge of Silver for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey. "I was very, very excited afterward."

Badge of Silver has won all three of his career starts, and won his stakes and two-turn debut in the Risen Star here last month by 10 lengths. He'll vie for favoritism in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby with Kafwain, who ships from Southern California next week.

"He's been very aggressive the last three days," Werner said. "He never ceases to amaze me. He just keeps doing better."