Silver Magna tries two turns in Minnesota Oaks
SHAKOPEE, Minn. – The $80,000 Minnesota Oaks, a race at one mile and 70 yards with 10 Minnesota-bred fillies entered, looks like an opportunity for Sioux Appeal, Silver Magna, and Shaboom to renew their budding rivalry.
Silver Magna, trained by Michael Biehler for breeders and owners Al and Bill Ulwelling, rose to the top of the division with a 2 1/2-length tally July 4 in the $60,000 Frances Genter, a six-furlong sprint. The Genter marked her second straight victory, and the Magna Graduate filly is set to go around two turns for the first time in the Oaks.
The Mac Robertson-trained pair of Sioux Appeal and Shaboom also will tackle a route of ground for the first time. In 2014-15, Robertson has an excellent 25 percent strike rate when his runners stretch out from a pair of sprints to a route.
Sioux Appeal, victorious in the 2014 Northern Lights Debutante by a head, was well beaten when third in the Genter and aims to rebound under jockey Leandro Goncalves.
Shaboom, the 3-10 favorite in the Genter when finishing second, cruised to easy wins in her first two lifetime starts this season, and the U S Ranger filly can turn the tables on Silver Magna.
Trainer Gary Scherer entered an interesting duo in the Oaks, P J’s Angel and Foxy Felicity. P J’s Angel, the lone entrant with two-turn route experience, won her maiden by 1 3/4 lengths on July 10. Her win came at the Oaks distance on Canterbury’s turf course. Foxy Felicity, an unraced Matt’s Broken Vow filly, has trained forwardly for a tough debut spot.
KEY CONTENDERS
Sioux Appeal (Last 3 Beyers: 46-43-45)
Jockey Goncalves, 3 for 10 for the Mac Robertson stable, won a June 4 allowance sprint on her.
P J’s Angel (Last 3 Beyers: 43-36-22)
Trainer Gary Scherer is 19 percent when his runners move from turf to dirt in 2014-15.
Silver Magna (Last 3 Beyers: 68-45-44)
Improved substantially in her Genter win, and jockey Denny Velazquez retains the mount.
Trainer Biehler is 9 percent when his runners stretch out from a sprint to a route in 2014-15.
Shaboom (Last 3 Beyers: 62-61-48)
Butler is 15 for 45 when riding for the Robertson stable here in 2014-15.
Inherits plenty of stamina from her stoutly bred Barkerville dam, Chasin Mason.