Enduring Will dominates Silver Spur

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Enduring Will might have punched her ticket to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies later this month at Lone Star Park after she powered to a 10-length win in the $100,000 Silver Spur Breeders' Cup on Friday, the track's opening night.

The one-mile race for 2-year-old fillies was designed as a local prep for the BC Juvenile Fillies. Al Stall Jr., who trains Enduring Will, said the filly is being considered for the Breeders' Cup, which will be run on Oct. 30.

"My gut feeling says yes, but we'll just ride it out a little longer," said Stall.

Enduring Will, who paid $5.60 as the favorite, races for Michael Rainier of Dallas. She unleashed a monster move midway on the final turn in the Silver Spur, was clear of her rivals by the quarter pole, and was workmanlike through the stretch. Enduring Will covered the distance over a sloppy track in 1:39.49.

The Silver Spur was her first start around two turns, and she was content to settle well off the pace, having just one horse beat on the first turn. Ketchmewhereyoucan took the field through an opening quarter in 23.20 seconds, and was still in control of the pace through a half-mile in 47.41. On the final turn, however, nobody had an answer for Enduring Will.

Kristin's Charm finished second, a nose in front of third-place finisher Berdelia. Casey Lambert rode Berdelia and claimed foul against the winner for interference on the final turn. It was disallowed, and the order of finish remained unchanged. Myrene, who was well-regarded on the heels of a 16 3/4-length maiden win in her last start, injured a leg and was euthanized, according to track officials.

"She wasn't hitting bad, it was just an accident. It happens," said Calvin Borel, who rode Myrene. "I can't fault the racetrack."

Enduring Will earned $60,000 for the win, her second in three starts. She is a daughter of Arch.

Attendance for opening night, which started under clear skies but became rain-soaked in the middle of the card, was 8,377. Handle on the 10-race card was $2,136,411, with $599,156 of that amount bet ontrack.

Upon filing into the track, patrons were greeted with a number of improvements, including a 1,000-pound statue of Alysheba near the entrance and temporary seat structures throughout the facility. The seats were put in to accommodate the crowd of more than 50,000 expected for the Breeders' Cup.

Day wins while on tour

Pat Day rode at Lone Star on Friday night as part of his tour for the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America and won with one of his two mounts. Day guided Boots Are Walking ($3.80) to victory in the seventh race for trainer Bret Calhoun, and earlier on the card finished sixth in the fourth race aboard Critical Battle.

Day has toured seven tracks, and will wrap up his current travels at Thistledown on Oct. 7.

"The whole thing has just been a wonderful, wonderful deal," he said.

Day toured three tracks in Texas and won with four of his five mounts, including a Quarter Horse at Sam Houston.