Silent Bird goes after Damascus Stakes repeat
DEL MAR, Calif. – Silent Bird won his stakes debut in the Damascus Stakes at Santa Anita last November, on the first day of the Breeders’ Cup.
A year later, Silent Bird is back in a familiar spot – the $200,000 Damascus Stakes at seven furlongs, Friday’s first race at Del Mar.
In 2016, Silent Bird was in the midst of a five-race winning streak when he won the Damascus. Friday, the 5-year-old horse has something to prove against a solid field.
Silent Bird has lost his last two starts – a fourth in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita in March and a third in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs here Aug. 26.
For Friday’s race, trainer Mark Glatt is fitting Silent Bird with blinkers for the first time.
“I think he’s sitting on a big one,” Glatt said. “We’re adding blinkers on Friday and we’ll see if that can help a little bit. I think we’ll see him fairly close.”
The Damascus is one of three six-figure races on the undercard of Friday’s 10-race program, which begins at 11:25 a.m., Pacific.
Silent Bird drew the rail in a field of seven.
“I didn’t appreciate getting the rail with him,” Glatt said.
The field includes three other stakes winners – Good Bye Greg, Kobe’s Back, and Mr. Hinx. Leading Score and Americanize won first-condition optional-claiming races at Los Alamitos and Santa Anita in their last start.
Silent Bird could benefit if Americanize and Good Bye Greg set a quick pace.
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Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes
The Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes at five furlongs on turf is Friday’s final race, and may be the last start for the 5-year-old mare Long Hot Summer. She is scheduled to be sold Tuesday at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
A 5-year-old mare by Street Boss, Long Hot Summer has won 6 of 18 starts and earned $421,539. She won the Daisycutter Handicap at five furlongs on turf Aug. 4 at Del Mar, a win certain to draw bettors’ attention for Friday’s race, which drew a field of 11 fillies and mares.
Trained by Phil D’Amato, Long Hot Summer was third in the California Distaff Handicap on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Oct. 14, the first time she was ridden by Flavien Prat. Long Hot Summer led in the stretch and was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by stablemate Barbara Beatrice.
“If Flavien was more familiar with her, he would have made his move a little earlier,” D’Amato said. “That would have made a difference.”
Joe Talamo will ride Long Hot Summer on Friday.
“I know she likes this turf course and the distance,” D’Amato said.
Prat will ride Belvoir Bay, a three-time stakes winner trained by Peter Miller.
The New York-based shippers Firsthand Report and Vigor look particularly dangerous. Firsthand Report has won four of her last five starts, all for trainer Todd Pletcher. The speedy Vigor will have her stakes debut and is trained by Bill Mott.
Golden State Juvenile Fillies
The stakes winners Ismelucky and Spiced Perfection meet for the first time in the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.
Spiced Perfection has not raced since winning the Generous Portion Stakes for statebreds at six furlongs here Aug. 30, her second win in four starts.
Ismelucky has won her last two starts – a maiden race at Santa Anita in May and the Barretts Debutante at 6 1/2 furlongs Sept. 16 at Los Alamitos. Ismelucky has worked quickly in recent weeks, including five furlongs in 1:00 at Santa Anita on Oct. 26, the fastest of 35 works at the distance.
The quick workout was indicative of Ismelucky’s training through October, trainer Jeff Bonde said.
“She had a good month,” Bonde said. “We’ve waited on this race. She’s kept her weight well, and her works have been sharp.”
The Golden State Juvenile Fillies has a field of nine, including Show It N Moe It, who won the CTBA Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs here in August and was a well-beaten third at 1-2 in the Generous Portion Stakes.