Odds-on Sterling Silver dominates Johnstone Mile
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Sterling Silver appreciated dropping back in with New York-bred company and appreciated stretching out a little bit in distance as she dominated Wednesday’s $125,000 Johnstone Mile by 9 3/4 lengths at Saratoga.
Always within two lengths of a moderate pace under Junior Alvarado, Sterling Silver, after going around tiring pacesetter Sunset Louise, rallied through an opening along rail turning for home and drew away from her four overmatched rivals. Maggy’s Palace, the longest shot on the board at 19-1, outfinished Smokin’ Hot Kitty by three-quarters of a length for second. It was 9 3/4 lengths back to Bustin Bay in fourth.
Sunset Louise was eased as she showed again that she’s ineffective without Lasix. Cupid’s Heart and Echo in Eternity scratched.
The win was the eighth from 25 starts for Sterling Silver, a daughter of Cupid owned by Mark Anderson and making her third start for trainer Bill Mott. It was her fourth stakes victory - all against New York-breds - and she pushed her career earnings to $837,301.
Though Sterling Silver had gone 0 for 3 at distances of a mile or longer, Mott felt confident that, at least against this field, she’d be able to handle it just fine.
“I’m sure there are good fillies out there to run a mile, but she seemed to handle the mile really well today and did it easily,” Mott said. “She was in the bridle the whole way rather than having to scrub on her to keep up with the pace.”
Alvarado said Sterling Silver put herself into contention without him having to ask her to do it, which made life a lot simpler.
“We didn’t have to rush her off her feet,” Alvarado said. “She was just dragging me the whole way around. I was just waiting for an opening and when I found that I just gave her a little nudge and she finished up well.”
Sterling Silver covered the mile over a fast track in 1:37.40 and returned $3.50 to win.
Anderson has been ambitious with Sterling Silver, running her six times in Grade 1 stakes, most recently the Derby Distaff in May at Churchill Downs where she finished fifth of 10.
“He’s been very brave and very bold with a lot of the races that he’s run in,” Mott said. “He’s never ducked going in Grade 1s, but it’s nice to see the filly come back with a group that she can win against. It always gives them a little confidence.”
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