Silent Joy gets new trainer; will skip Breeders' Cup

Silent Joy, who was expected to draw in off the also-eligible list and start Friday in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, was transferred to trainer Dale Romans’s barn from Michelle Nihei on Monday and has been withdrawn from consideration for the race.

Silent Joy is owned by Adam Wachtel, Nils Brous, and Danny Gargan. The 2-year-old daughter of Kitten’s Joy won her career debut over the Saratoga turf course on Aug. 25 before finishing fifth, beaten sixth lengths by division leader Winter Memories, in the Grade 3 Ms. Grillo Stakes on Oct. 3.

“I currently have four horses for Mr. Wachtel, and he called and asked me if I’d take this filly,” Romans said. “I understand there was some sort of dispute between one of the other owners and Michelle. The horse just came into my barn this morning and she seems to be in great shape, but we felt it was in the filly’s best interests, under the circumstances, to pass the Breeders’ Cup.”

According to Wachtel, Silent Joy had tied up after training a couple of mornings earlier and that’s the reason she’s not participating in the Breeders’ Cup. He said it had nothing to do with the trainer change.

“There’s an allowance race here next week, and if Dale feels she’s ready, she’ll go in that race,” Wachtel said.

Nihei said she was disappointed to lose a potential Breeders’ Cup starter.

“Naturally, losing the opportunity to run a horse in any Breeders’ Cup race is a big disappointment,” Nihei said. “Fortunately, that is tempered by the fact I do have Prince Will I Am who will run in the Marathon.”

Prince Will I Am gave Nihei her first Grade 1 win when upsetting Belmont’s Jamaica Handicap earlier this month.

Wachtel and Brous also have a starter in this year’s Breeders’ Cup, Al Khali, who is stabled with trainer Bill Mott and will run in the Turf.

- additional reporting by David Grening