Silver Max to make 2014 debut in Firecracker

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Dale Romans has confirmed the Grade 2 Firecracker as the comeback spot for Silver Max after the 5-year-old horse breezed Thursday over the Churchill Downs turf.

Silver Max, the only horse to defeat Wise Dan in the last two years, has not raced since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in early November. The $200,000 Firecracker, a one-mile turf race, anchors closing weekend of the spring meet with its 24th running next Saturday, June 28.

“He’s coming around real well, so yes, we’re planning on entering,” Romans said. “He gets a lot out of his training, and I really liked this last work,” a five-furlong breeze in 1:04.80 with the “dogs” well out onto the course. “I’ll just gallop him into the race.”

Silver Max, owned by Mark Bacon and Dana Wells, has earned almost $1.8 million, with 11 wins and five seconds from 23 career starts. Before the Breeders’ Cup, he led wire-to-wire in upsetting Wise Dan in the Shadwell Mile on the Keeneland Polytrack in October, marking the only loss for the reigning two-time Horse of the Year since June 2012.

Silver Max “just needed some time, as hard as he’s run for us,” Romans said. “He didn’t have surgery or anything, just time off. Hopefully, we’re in position to have a big second half of the year with him.”

Silver Max is one of 44 nominees to the Firecracker, for which entries will be taken Wednesday. The only other remaining stakes at the 38-day spring meet is the Grade 3, $100,000 Bashford Manor, also to be run Saturday. Closing day is Sunday, June 29.

Younger Saez gets started

Juan Saez, the younger brother of standout jockey Luis Saez, made his U.S. riding debut here Thursday when guiding Malibu Springs to a runner-up finish in the third race.

Saez, 17, recently graduated first in his class at the renowned Laffit Pincay Jr. Training Academy in his native Panama and was advised by agent Richard DePass to come to Kentucky to “ride a lot of races, if we can,” at the Ellis Park meet that begins July 3, according to his agent, Julio Espinoza.

“There are very high expectations for him,” said Espinoza.

General a Rod to Saratoga

General a Rod, who ran in all three Triple Crown events, will be returning from a local farm “in time to go to Saratoga,” said Harvey Diamond, one of the colt’s co-owners.

General a Rod, trained by Mike Maker, finished 11th in the Kentucky Derby, fourth in the Preakness, and seventh in the Belmont Stakes.

“He’s doing great,” Diamond said while showing a phone video of the colt running around a farm paddock. “He ran hard and deserved a little downtime.”

Golfer Dufner visits

Star golfer Jason Dufner, the defending champion of the PGA Championship, was here Wednesday for a media opportunity. Swinging from the sixth floor with the famed Twin Spires in the background, Dufner hit a few pitch shots into the Derby winner’s circle below.

A couple of local jockeys, Corey Lanerie and Robby Albarado, also showed off their iron skills by knocking the ball into the confined area about 100 yards away. One of Albarado’s shots rested about a foot from the pin.

“Every time I show up at one of these things, somebody has to show up the pro,” Dufner said to great laughter.

The 2014 PGA Championship, the last of the four majors, will be held Aug. 7-10 at Valhalla in Louisville.

◗ Erin Walker scored the fourth win of her riding career, and her first at Churchill, when guiding New Found King to victory in the first race here Thursday. Following her fifth win, Walker, 29, will ride with a seven-pound apprentice allowance, down from 10 pounds.

Walker’s three prior wins all came in April at the now-defunct Beulah Park. A native of Newport News, Va., she formerly rode steeplechase horses before working as an exercise rider for such top trainers as Christophe Clement, Steve Asmussen, and Mark Casse.

◗ Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Pitino of the University of Louisville was in the winner’s circle Thursday after his homebred My Christini won the nominal feature, a first-level allowance sprint, as a 10-1 shot under Lanerie. My Christini, a 3-year-old filly trained by Jimmy Baker, was bred by Ol’ Memorial Stables and competes under the red-and-black silks of Pitino’s stable, RAP Racing.

◗ Megan Fadlovich was scheduled to return to action Friday at the new Belterra Park in Cincinnati, marking her first ride since she sustained a leg injury in a Kentucky Derby Day spill involving three horses.

◗ Vernon “Shorty” Herman, the owner of Herman’s Turf Supply near Ellis Park for some 60 years, died last Sunday in Evansville, Ind. He was 90.