Silent Pleasure should clear his hurdles

Silent Pleasure has a few obstacles to overcome Saturday in the $125,000 Tiznow Breeders' Cup at Louisiana Downs, but he is clearly the horse to beat in the 1 1/16-mile race. He has won four stakes in his last five starts, cuts back to the distance of his most impressive win, and gets the opportunity to race at home for the first time since October.

For his accomplishments, however, Silent Pleasure will have to spot each of his rivals between 4 and 12 pounds as the 122-pound highweight in the Tiznow. He also will be taking on a serious new shooter in Grade 2 winner Super Frolic.

Their meeting is one of several matchups of interest on a card that features four stakes worth a cumulative $350,000. The $125,000 Hallowed Dreams Breeders' Cup drew True Tails and Moroccan Rose, while promising 2-year-olds will clash on turf in the $50,000 Minstrel and the $50,000 Princess.

Silent Pleasure last raced June 30, finishing second to Dry Martini by 1o3/4 lengths in the Grade 2, 1 1/8 miles Cornhusker Breeders' Cup at Prairie Meadows. Silent Pleasure earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 104, which is also the highest last-race figure in the Tiznow.

"I hope he repeats his race, and if he does he'll be tough," said Tracy Hebert, the regular rider of Silent Pleasure for owner-trainer Howard Scarberry. "He ran a good race. He ran a big race for being off a little while."

The Cornhusker was Silent Pleasure's first start since April 28, when he won the Grade 3, $300,000 Texas Mile over Bob and John. He was supposed to run in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap on May 28, but was found to have swelling in a hind ankle. It was believed to be the result of a spider bite, and he was scratched. For the Tiznow, he drew post 4.

"I'd like to see him laying second or third," said Hebert. "He can go to the front. Wherever he wants to be, as long as he's comfortable."

Super Frolic is making his first start since Nov. 24, when he finished seventh in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs. A winner of $1.3 million, he has been working well at Arlington Park.

"I think it's a good spot to get him back started," said Steve Asmussen, who trains Super Frolic and has given the mount to Luis Quinonez.

Others in the Tiznow - which was formerly known as the Ark-La-Tex Handicap but has been renamed after the 2000 Super Derby winner - include stakes winners Go Now, High Strike Zone, Middleweight, and Cajun Conquest.