Monmouth: Devilish Silver makes rare start for a claiming tag

OCEANPORT, N.J. – The ultra-consistent Devilish Silver has hit the board in her last 15 starts, all for trainer Bobby Dibona. She looks to extend that streak in a second-level optional $32,000 claimer, the Friday feature for fillies and mares on the last major weekend at Monmouth Park.

There will be stakes races Saturday through Monday as the core portion of the Monmouth season concludes. The Grade 3 Cliff Hanger on turf highlights the Saturday card, while 2-year-olds are showcased Sunday in the Grade 3 Sapling and the Sorority for fillies.

The Icecapade for sprinters tops the Labor Day card. Post time is 12:45 p.m. Eastern.

After Monday, Monmouth cuts back to a Saturday-Sunday schedule for the balance of the meet through Oct. 7.

For Devilish Silver, the Friday feature looks like a cozy spot. The 5-year-old Devilish Silver has six wins in her 15-race in-the-money string, including a dominant second-level allowance win last time out at Parx Racing.

Using the claiming option, Devilish Silver gets another crack at the same class with Paco Lopez aboard. She faces five rivals in the one mile race and Dibona expects another solid effort.

“She’s been a phenomenal filly for me,” Dibona said. “She’s got her problems but she’s got a big heart. She always shows up when I send her over there. It’s getting harder to find the right races for her. I was glad to see this race go. I think it sets up just fine for her.”

Dibona sees a favorable pace scenario developing with plenty of early speed to the inside of Devilish Silver, who prefers to come off the pace.

“We expect to win it,” Dibona said. “When she’s feeling up to the task, she usually delivers. She should get a nice stalking trip. Paco fits her like a glove and we go in with a lot of confidence.”

The only negative: someone could reach in and claim her away. To this point, Dibona has been very protective, trying to avoid having Devilish Silver carry a tag.

“It’s time,” Dibona said. “What else is left for her? She’s got issues and demands a lot of attention. You’ve got to put them where we think they belong. She’s not good enough to win a stakes. When you have nice, classy horses with physical limitations, you can ruin them by overmatching them.”

Sammzilla and Freud’s Notebook, a pair of recent claims, figure to provide inside speed. Sammzilla breaks from the rail after a sprint victory in a $16,000 claimer, her second start after trainer Patricia Farro claimed her for $10,000 back in June.

Freud’s Notebook just missed going seven furlongs in a starter allowance most recently at Parx in her debut for trainer Bruce Levine following a $25,000 claim at Belmont Park.

Minesave is the lone 3-year-old in the field. She will try to regroup after finishing up the track in Monmouth’s Serena’s Song Stakes.

T.M.’s Treasure, winner of two straight at Charles Town, and Go Go Lolo complete the field.