Silent Stalk shining on turf
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Silent Stalk's three-race winning streak will be tested when she makes her stakes debut in Friday's $70,000 Manhattan Beach Stakes at Hollywood Park. Or will it?
Since being switched to turf after losing the first four starts of her career, all on the main track, Silent Stalk is unbeaten. The most recent win, in an optional claimer over six furlongs on turf here on May 16, was her most impressive victory and came over the same course and distance as the Manhattan Beach.
"She ran huge," trainer Julio Canani said. "She doesn't let anybody go by."
Silent Stalk has won all three of her turf sprints in the same manner, by leading or disputing the pace. She won a maiden race by a head at Santa Anita in March, an optional claimer there in April by a nose, and pulled clear late to win by 2 1/2 lengths on May 16.
"She's never done anything wrong," Canani said.
Maybe one thing has gone wrong. On May 26, Silent Stalk worked three furlongs in 34.60 seconds on the Hollywood Park main track, much faster than Canani would have preferred.
"She just got away from the boy," he said. "I didn't want her to go in 34. I wanted her to go in 36."
Canani has two starters in the Manhattan Beach, which is restricted to 3-year-old fillies. He starts Fastongrass, a three-time winner in turf sprints. Fastongrass won an optional claimer over six furlongs on turf at 11-1 when entered for $80,000 here on May 13.
Unlike Silent Stalk, Fastongrass is best stalking the pace. Canani said that the filly does not get the credit she deserves.
"She ran really nice the other day," he said. "I don't know why she paid $24. She doesn't want to go long. I ran her long and she didn't run well."
The Manhattan Beach, the fifth race on an eight-race program that begins at 7 p.m., has drawn a field of eight. There are two stakes winners in the field.
Ultra Blend, the winner of the Tiburon Stakes at Golden Gate Fields in January, and Ten Churros, the winner of the Generous Portion Stakes at Del Mar last August, are making their first start on turf.
Oui Say Oui, second in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes in Ireland last August, could also be a factor.