Silent Pleasure extends streak in Fifth Season

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Silent Pleasure won his third straight stakes race Thursday, when he turned back Kid Grindstone in the stretch for a two-length victory in the $100,000 Fifth Season at Oaklawn Park. Kid Grindstone was a clear second, finishing four lengths in front of third-place finisher Like an Eagle.

The Fifth Season was the fifth of nine stakes that are being run over the final week of the meet as part of the annual Racing Festival of the South.

Silent Pleasure ($9) moved to the lead at the start of the Fifth Season, and dueled along the rail through a half-mile in 46.62 seconds. He shook free of his pace rival, Chippewa Trail, through six furlongs in 1:11.34, and powered home, covering the mile and a sixteenth for older horses in 1:42.95.

"He went to the front without any real hard urging, and once in front he relaxed," said Luis Quinonez, who rode Silent Pleasure. "When the favorite came to us in the lane, he had plenty left."

Howard Scarberry co-owns and trains Silent Pleasure, whom he acquired in a trade as an unraced horse. Silent Pleasure earned $60,000 for his win in the Fifth Season, which came on the heels of victories in the $73,000 Delta Mile and the $97,000 Gulf Coast Classic, both in March at Delta Downs.

Scarberry said Silent Pleasure could make his next start in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap at Lone Star Park on May 28.

Silent Pleasure has now won 5 of 14 starts and $211,555. He is a 4-year-old son of Real Quiet and the mare Wholelotapleasure, who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winners Littlebitlively and Built for Pleasure.