Our Silver Oak by a head in Snow Chief

ARCADIA, Calif. – Depending on the venue or distance, only a nose or a head has separated Our Silver Oak and Irish Heatwave.

In the $100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes for 3-year-old California-breds at a mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields on April 28, Irish Heatwave beat Our Silver Oak by a nose. In Saturday’s $200,351 Snow Chief Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Sana Anita, Our Silver Oak rallied from eighth to win by a head over Irish Heatwave.

In both races, Lieutenant Dan finished third.

Our Silver Oak won at the longer distance on Saturday even though jockey Mike Smith felt his saddle slip slightly forward in the post parade.

“He was tough to saddle,” Smith said. “I didn’t want to get him riled up and re-saddle him.”

The issue did not matter. Our Silver Oak raced between rivals to the turn when Smith moved the gelding to the outside for running room.

“He’s big and he doesn’t have that turn of foot,” Smith said. “When I got him outside, he was fine.”

Our Silver Oak was fifth with a furlong to go and took the lead in the final strides. He was timed in 1:50.04 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 81.

The finish was a reverse of the Silky Sullivan when Our Silver Oak appeared to run out of time to catch Irish Heatwave. Saturday, trainer Jonathan Wong’s hopes grew when Our Silver Oak reached the stretch.

“When I saw him get to the outside, I thought, 'He’s got them,'” Wong said. “He’s been training so well. He couldn’t be training any better. I thought he was best in his last race.”

The Snow Chief was the richest career win for Wong, 30. Owned by Robert Jones, Michael Nentwig, and Ray Pagano, Our Silver Oak has won 2 of 11 starts and earned $224,694.

The first two finishers are by Unusual Heat. The remaining order of finish was Prodigal Son, Desmos Doss, Oliver, Carnivorous, Mobou, and Appreciated.

Starr of Quality gets ideal trip in Dream of Summer

Starr of Quality benefited from an ideal stalking trip to win Saturday’s $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes at Santa Anita in her 23rd start.

Sent off at 7-10, Starr of Quality was second in a field of four California-bred fillies and mares for the first six furlongs before taking the lead in early stretch from pacesetter Coco Kisses. Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Starr of Quality won by 1 1/2 lengths over Coco Kisses.

“My filly wanted to go at the half-mile pole, but we waited and she ran really good,” Pereira said.

Starr of Quality ($3.40) ran a mile in 1:40.26 and earned a Beyer of 79.

Sapphire Kid was third, followed by Bella Luma.

Starr of Quality, a 5-year-old mare by First Dude, has won 6 of 23 starts and earned $290,659. She was claimed for $32,000 by trainer Bill Spawr on behalf of current owners Tom Acker and Jon Lindo in February 2018 and has since won 3 of 11 starts and earned $196,294.