Promise Me Silver wins Instant Racing to stay perfect

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Promise Me Silver ran her record to 7 for 7 on Saturday, when she rolled to a 2 1/4-length win over Harbour Island in the $100,000 Instant Racing at Oaklawn Park. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to Indian Brava in third.

The Instant Racing, for 3-year-old fillies, was one of four stakes on the closing-day card of the Oaklawn meet. The program was anchored by the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

Promise Me Silver ($3.60) was turning back from a seven-furlong stakes for the six-furlong Instant Racing and sat farther off the pace than usual as Calypso Run, Oh Kay See, and Indian Brava went at it through an opening quarter in 21.75 seconds. Promise Me Silver advanced three wide around the turn as the leaders continued through a half-mile in 45.49.

Promise Me Silver overtook those rivals in the stretch, kicking into high gear in the late stages while covering the distance on a fast track in 1:10.03.

“I think this filly might be a little better coming from farther off of it,” said Bret Calhoun, who trains Promise Me Silver for Myrna and Robert Luttrell. “She’s very versatile, and the [outside] post allowed us to run that kind of race.”

Cliff Berry was aboard Promise Me Silver, whom he has ridden for five of her seven wins.

“When Cliff got clear, she accelerated,” said Calhoun.

Calhoun said Promise Me Silver is a candidate for the Grade 3, $200,000 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs on May 1. Calhoun won that race last year with Fiftyshadesofgold.

Promise Me Silver earned $60,000 for the win to improve her bankroll to $319,355. She is a daughter of Silver City and was bred in Texas by the Luttrells.