Memories of Silver Stakes no easy spot for Time and Motion

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Jimmy Toner thought he was doing the smart thing by ducking Catch a Glimpse in the Grade 3 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland on April 14 and pointing Time and Motion to Sunday’s $100,000 Memories of Silver Stakes on closing day at Aqueduct.

While Time and Motion won’t face a filly like Catch a Glimpse in the Memories of Silver, the race came up much tougher than Toner had hoped.

“I thought all the heavy heads ran at Keeneland last week,” Toner said.

The Memories of Silver is extremely competitive. Six of the eight horses entered for the 1 1/16-mile turf race have last-out Beyer Speed Figures ranging from 77 to 80. Time and Motion earned a 78 Beyer in winning a maiden race at Gulfstream on March 20 in her 3-year-old debut. As a maiden last year, Time and Motion ran third in the Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont and was fifth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Catch a Glimpse, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

“Legitimately, every time she ran, she could have won,” Toner said.

Toner said there would be special meaning to winning the Memories of Silver, a race named for the multiple Grade 1 stakes-winning mare Toner trained in the mid-1990s.

“I would like to keep her on track, but also it’s the Memories of Silver – that would be a bit of a plus for us,” Toner said.

There is not a lot of speed in the Memories of Silver, which could make the recent maiden winner Taralena dangerous under Kendrick Carmouche. Still, there is plenty of talent in the field, including two-time stakes winners Lira and Pricedtoperfection as well as Florida Oaks runner-up Enjoy Yourself and Tampa Bay Downs allowance winner My Impression.

Following Sunday’s card, racing moves to Belmont Park on Friday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Lira, by Giant’s Causeway Last 3 Beyers: 79-83-80

◗ Had a wide trip and was carried out slightly by the winner, Harmonize, when finishing fourth – placed third by the disqualification of third-place finisher Shake Down Baby – in the Sanibel Island Stakes at Gulfstream on March 26.

“She got hit from behind straightening out for home,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “She ran well despite that, but it was a sloppy race all the way around; a number of horses in that race had eventful trips. She’s trained well since then.”

◗ Had won her first three starts, including a half-length victory over Pricedtoperfection in the Ginger Brew Stakes.

Pricedtoperfection, by Temple City Last 3 Beyers: 77-78-75

◗ Bounced back from a loss to Lira with a three-quarter-length victory in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant on Jan. 30.

◗ Makes her first start since then for trainer Chad Brown, whose horses usually run well fresh.

Time and Motion, by Tapit Last 3 Beyers: 78-81-75

◗ Impressed with her close fifth-place finish in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, where she had to race wide throughout after breaking from post 14 and yet was beaten only 1 3/4 lengths by Catch a Glimpse.

◗ Has fired three bullet works since her maiden score at 3-5 on March 20.

“She’s done everything right so far,” Toner said. “I think she’s a quality filly, but it’s a salty spot.”