Promise Me Silver flaunts talent in Debutante

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A year after future graded stakes winner Fiftyshadesofgold won the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs, stablemate Promise Me Silver followed in her footsteps in Saturday's renewal.

Promise Me Silver showed several similarities to Fiftyshadesofgold coming into the $108,300 Debutante. Like Fiftyshadesofgold she is a Texas-bred trained by Bret Calhoun, and both defeated statebred opposition at Lone Star in their debuts. And Promise Me Silver showed in the Debutante she is the real deal, no matter her pedigree or where she started out.

She comfortably placed herself in third in the six-furlong Debutante, as favored Unbridled Reward set a contested opening quarter under pressure from longshot Irish Nuggets in 22.22 seconds. When Irish Nuggets began to tire, Promise Me Silver made her move under Robby Albarado. She engaged Unbridled Reward, opened up a three-length advantage in midstretch, and maintained a two-length advantage at the wire.

“Very talented, a very smart filly,” said Albarado. “I’m excited about the rest of the year.”

None of the other four fillies in the race proved in the same league as the top two. There was a gap of 11 1/4 lengths back to Rousanne in third.

Promise Me Silver ($6.20) didn’t run as fast as Fiftyshadesofgold did last year. Her time was 1:11.49, compared to 1:10.63 for Fiftyshadesofgold last year.

Promise Me Silver is by Silver City, an Unbridled’s Song horse Calhoun trained to become a stakes-winning sprinter. She is owned by breeder Robert Luttrell.

Calhoun said a stakes at Saratoga would be considered for Promise Me Silver's next start. Last year Fiftyshadesofgold ran a troubled third in the Grade 2 Adirondack there.

Speedinthruthecity wins easily

A race following the Debutante, Speedinthruthecity cruised to an easy victory in the $66,000 Roxelana overnight stakes. Blocked until inside the three-sixteenths pole in the six-furlong race, she exploded under a hand ride once clear under Julien Leparoux and won by 4 3/4 lengths over Anahauc.

A 4-year-old daughter of City Zip trained by Steve Asmussen for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds, Speedinthruthecity paid $4.20. She raced six furlongs in 1:10.04.

Devious d’Oro was third, 1 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up, and was followed by Warm Breeze in fourth.