Pure Silver runs them off their feet in Adirondack

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said it best when summing up Pure Silver’s 9 1/2-length victory over Southampton Way and six other overmatched 2-year-old fillies in Saturday’s Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga.

“She just kind of ran them off their feet,” said Pletcher, who won the Adirondack for the second straight summer and fifth time overall.

Pure Silver had won her two previous starts including a wire-to-wire victory in the Lynbrook for New York-breds last month at Belmont Park. She broke a bit awkwardly from the rail in the Adirondack, but recovered quickly to establish command along the rail, turned back a sustained bid from Limited View from the half-mile pole to the top of the stretch, then steadily extended her advantage under regular rider John Velazquez.

Southampton Way broke alertly but bobbled slightly at the break, dropped back to race wide within easy striking distance of the leaders from the outset, and while no match for the winner remained a length clear of Wall of Compassion to finish second. Stainless stumbled badly leaving the gate, and lagged far back before rallying mildly to be fourth.

Pure Silver, a homebred daughter of Mission Impazible owned by Twin Creeks Racing, compled 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.22 and paid $5.40.

“She’s pretty fast although she actually didn’t get away quite as cleanly as she normally does,” said Pletcher. “But she made up for it kind of quickly, got to the lead the right way, and won pretty convincingly.”

Pletcher said he would take a hard luck at the Grade 1 Spinaway on September 2 for Pure Silver.

“She’s held her condition really well,” said Pletcher. “She’s run three times and looks fantastic.”

As for Stainless, Pletcher said he was proud of her performance considering her unfortunate beginning.

“I thought [jockey Manny Franco] did a great job just to stay on her,” said Pletcher. “And she put in a nice run to be fourth and make up some ground like she did.”

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