Power Alert, Amelia's Wild Ride continue rivalry in Silks Run
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Power Alert 3, Amelia’s Wild Ride 0.
That’s the score in head-to-head meetings between the two sprint specialists over the past 15 months. But that tally doesn’t reflect the fact that there is still very little separating the two rivals when assessing their chances for their fourth encounter, which comes Saturday in the $75,000 Silks Run Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The Silks Run highlights a 12-race card that features its filly counterpart, the $75,000 Captiva Island, also at five furlongs on grass.
Power Alert and Amelia’s Wild Ride have finished one-two in all three previous encounters, beginning with an allowance race here in December 2014, the winning margin of 1 1/4 lengths being the largest to date between the pair.
Power Alert outlasted Amelia’s Wild Ride by a half-length to capture the 2015 Silks Run before continuing his mastery with a neck decision when the pair met for a third time last month in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint.
Despite having come out on the short end on all three occasions, Amelia’s Wild Ride actually will have to concede weight to his nemesis in the Silks Run, carrying 122 pounds, with Power Alert assigned 120 under the allowance conditions of the race. Amelia’s Wild Ride earns his impost by virtue of his victory in the Grade 3 Woodford on a muddy main track last fall at Keeneland.
Power Alert is also a Grade 3 winner, capturing the Churchill Downs Turf Sprint on Kentucky Derby Day, a victory that came prior to the cutoff date used to assess weight assignments in the Silks Run.
Brian Lynch, who trains Power Alert, is confident that his horse can successfully defend his title in the Silks Run.
“He’s doing great, coming into the race in good order, and I expect him to run well again,” said Lynch.
Despite having had little success against Power Alert, Amelia’s Wild Ride has not come up empty at this meet. He rallied to a half-length victory in the Sunshine Millions Turf Sprint in his 2016 debut.
For those thinking that the two favorites could be vulnerable, there are numerous alternatives, including Simon Bar Sinister, the graded stakes-placed Hothersal, the speedy Bold Thunder, and Grade 3 main-track winner Grand Bili, who makes his turf debut Saturday.
◗ Katie’s Kiss and Jewel of a Cat will renew a rivalry of their own when topping a field of eight fillies and mares in the Captiva Island (race 11).
Katie’s Kiss finished a length in front of Jewel of a Cat when second behind odds-on favorite and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint runner-up Lady Shipman in the Ladies’ Turf Sprint on Feb. 6. Jewel of a Cat defeated runner-up Katie’s Kiss in the Sunshine Millions Turf Sprint Preview last fall at Gulfstream Park West.
Jewel of a Cat was assigned the top weight of 120 pounds for the Captiva Island, two more than Katie’s Kiss and Maggiesfreuddnslip, a former $5,000 claimer.
Silks Run, Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Power Alert, by Alert
Last 3 Beyers: 100-93-94
◗ He has flourished since shipping to the U.S., where he is able to run on Lasix, from his native Australia and is perfect in three starts over the local course.
Amelia’s Wild Ride, by D’wildcat
Last 3 Beyers: 99-97-77
◗ Was compromised by having to break from post 13, getting hung wide throughout, in the Turf Sprint and now moves inside to post 2.
Simon Bar Sinister, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: 91-94-71
◗ Was beaten only a length by Amelia’s Wild Ride despite a very wide trip in the Sunshine Millions Turf Sprint.