Promise Me Silver tries to fire fresh in Darby's Daughter

Promise Me Silver is arguably the best 2-year-old filly to emerge from the Texas breeding program this season, with a r é sum é that includes a win in the Debutante at Churchill Downs. She will be making her first start since that June race on Saturday night at Retama Park in the $75,000 Darby’s Daughter division of the Texas Stallion Stakes.

The Darby’s Daughter will share a card with the $75,000 My Dandy, which matches Bashford Manor runner-up Silverhill against the Grade 2-placed WV Jetsetter and the multiple stakes-placed Nubaldo Bling. Both races are for 2-year-olds at six furlongs.

Promise Me Silver is an undefeated daughter of Silver City and was bred by her owner, Robert Luttrell. She won her debut by 6 3/4 lengths at Lone Star Park in May and in her only other start captured the $108,000 Debutante on June 21. The Darby’s Daughter was the right fit for Promise Me Silver’s return, said trainer Bret Calhoun.

“We turned her out for 60 days, brought her back, and were lucky to have the Stallion Stakes,” Calhoun said. “There were lots of races for 2-year-old fillies, but they were all long. We didn’t want to bring her back at a longer distance.”

Darby’s Daughter, race 6

KEY CONTENDERS

Promise Me Silver (Last 2 Beyers: 70-69)

◗ Calhoun said he looks for Promise Me Silver to run well off the bench Saturday.

“She’s a very quality filly, a very fast filly, and I think she’s got every opportunity to win first race off the layoff,” he said. “She was very impressive first race of her life. It’s not like she needed a lot of experience or racing to get her ready for the first time, so that makes me feel pretty good going into this race.”

My Dandy, race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Silverhill (Last 3 Beyers: 46-77-65)

◗ He enters off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Sanford at Saratoga on July 19.

“The last race at Saratoga is a throw-out,” Calhoun said. “He flipped in the paddock before that race.”

◗ Silverhill shows a sharp series of works for his return, including six furlongs in 1:11.80 at Lone Star on Oct. 16.

“It’s a tough race,” Calhoun said. “There’s some nice horses, depth in the field. I wish I had a race under my belt. It would make me feel a little better, but I can’t say anything but good things about the horse and the way he has prepared for the race.”

Nubaldo Bling (Last 3 Beyers: 90-76-40)

◗ He returns to the restricted ranks after running second in the $75,000 Kip Deville at Remington.

◗ He owns the field’s best career Beyer Speed Figure.