Silver Max looks to move over $2M in earnings with River City win
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Dale Romans calls Silver Max “a special horse,” and why wouldn’t he? With a victory Saturday in the River City Handicap at Churchill Downs, Silver Max would go over the $2 million mark in career earnings, sufficient to endear him to almost anyone.
Dana Wells and Mark Bacon, among Romans’s longtime friends, are co-owners of Silver Max, a speedy 5-year-old who will carry the high weight of 123 pounds as a decisive favorite in the Grade 3, $100,000 River City, a 1 1/8-mile turf race. Ten other older horses are in opposition.
Besides his 12-for-26 career record and sizzling turn of foot, Silver Max also can lay claim to this rare bit of fame: He is the only horse to defeat Wise Dan in a span of 15 races and two-plus years, having outfooted the two-time Horse of the Year in the 2013 Shadwell Mile.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Silver Max. Trainer Dale Romans is 27-2-3-3 with a $1.80 ROI over the past five years in turf route graded stakes in the second start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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“That’s a special achievement if you think about it,” said Romans.
This will be the 37th running of the River City, which goes as the ninth of 10 races on an excellent Saturday program that also includes three allowances (races 4, 6, 8). Race 4 is a two-turn race for 2-year-olds that serves as a prep for the Nov. 29 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.
The Saturday card also will feature the North American debut of jockey Halis Karatas, a superstar in his homeland of Turkey. Karatas, 42, is named on four mounts, all for trainer Murat Sancal, a fellow Turk. Karatas will ride here for a full week, said Sancal.
First post Saturday is 12:40 p.m. Eastern, with the River City set for 4:37.
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Key contenders
Silver Max (Last 3 Beyers: 94-82-97)
* Where is the other speed in here to prevent jockey Robby Albarado from “walking the dog?” Except for Gentleman’s Kitten, whose chances for grabbing a share of the purse would diminish if he were to go head-and-head with Silver Max, there doesn’t seem to be any.
* It’s been a terrific fall meet for Romans, who led the trainers’ standings through Wednesday with six wins.
Guys Reward (Last 3 Beyers: 80-88-97)
* Form looks rather so-so until you notice what he’s accomplished over his home turf: five wins and 10 in-the-money finishes from 13 starts at Churchill.
* Earner of almost $800,000 will have the services of Corey Lanerie, whose meet-leading 14 wins through Wednesday could land him a seventh riding title from the last eight Churchill meets.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Guys Reward. Trainer Dale Romans is 35-7-1-4 with a $6.14 ROI over the past five years in turf route graded stakes in the first start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Villandry (Last 3 Beyers: 93-90-98)
* One of two Charlie LoPresti trainees in here (with Set the Sail), he turns back from a pair of 12-furlong races and figures to loom late if things fall apart.
Aldous Snow (Last 3 Beyers: 85-87-92)
* South-bound Sam-Son homebred exits a series of longer graded races at Woodbine and would present a stretch threat if Silver Max takes enough pressure up front.
Under Control (Last 3 Beyers: 90-94-93)
* Relatively lightly raced 6-year-old has been remarkably consistent for Graham Motion, who is having his best season (stable earnings of $10 million), and figures in the verticals with his typical run.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 11 Under Control. Trainer Graham Motion is 58-10-9-12 with a $3.12 ROI over the past five years in turf routes at Churchill. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 Dramedy. Trainer Gerald Aschinger is 38-7-4-1 with a $7.30 ROI over the past two years in turf routes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan