Golden Silk should be fit this time
ARCADIA, Calif. - Golden Silk will be neither outclassed nor out of shape when she drops into the $65,000 Hidden Light Stakes on Wednesday at Santa Anita. Nine 2-year-old fillies entered the mile turf race. This time, Golden Silk enters without an alibi.
It was not the case one month ago.
was turned out for two weeks after finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 27. But when it was time to return, there was nothing in the condition book for a maiden winner.
"I didn't see any one-other-thans in the near future, so I nominated to the Oak Leaf," said trainer Jim Cassidy.
With only one six-furlong workout in five weeks, Cassidy said he expected Golden Silk to be dead short for the Oct. 1 stakes. "I knew she would get tired, and that's pretty much what she did," he said.
Golden Silk led to the quarter pole of the Oak Leaf, and even after Diamond Omi and Wild Fit ran past, Golden Silk held third. Wednesday, she drops in class with a series of regularly spaced workouts.
"I've wanted to try her on turf, and if she handles the turf race well, I'll consider running in the Miesque," Cassidy said, referring to the Grade 3 stakes on Nov. 26 at Hollywood Park. Kent Desormeaux will ride Golden Silk, a filly by Songandaprayer who is owned by Tom and Marilyn Brady.
The Miesque is the logical goal for most Hidden Light starters, including impressive debut winner Balance. She broke slowly and took up at the start of her debut, gathered herself, and won the downhill turf sprint by 2 1/2 lengths.
The race was validated when runner-up Rosy Lea returned Oct. 28 to win a maiden race. Balance is a daughter of Thunder Gulch owned by John and Jerry Amerman and trained by David Hofmans. Bred to run all day - her dam won twice at 1 1/4 miles - Balance may provide Golden Silk her biggest challenge.
Leading trainer Jeff Mullins starts two. Calder shipper Sweet Fourty won a sloppy-track allowance by more than eight lengths Oct. 7; Acceleration drops from the Oak Leaf.
Trainer Doug O'Neill entered two East Coast shippers, including Cross. She won a July 31 mile turf race at Colonial Downs, defeating Art Show, who returned to win twice, including a stakes at The Meadowlands. Broken Tears won a $25,000 maiden-claimer on turf at Calder on Sept. 10. Docalady, Ellis K, and Mimosa Mist also were entered.