Silver Max makes long-awaited 2014 debut in Firecracker Stakes
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Silver Max has become more famous in sitting out almost eight months than he probably could have become otherwise. That’s because more than two years now have passed since any horse other than Silver Max has defeated Wise Dan, a badge of honor earned last fall in the Shadwell Mile at Keeneland.
Duly rested after extensive campaigns at 3 and 4, Silver Max will make his 5-year-old debut Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Firecracker Stakes at Churchill Downs, a one-mile turf race that will give his seven opponents a real chance to test him before he cycles back into peak form.
“I think I’ve got him ready enough,” said Dale Romans, who trains the horse for Mark Bacon and Dana Wells. “Hopefully, his class can carry him.”
Silver Max will have his regular jockey, Robby Albarado, back aboard when breaking from post 5 in the Firecracker, which anchors an outstanding Saturday card as the eighth of 10 races. Romans has put Silver Max through four recent workouts and said the horse “only needed a break, nothing else,” in explaining the layoff.[bc_video_id:328429:]
Silver Max has 11 wins and five seconds from 23 career starts for earnings of $1,778,403, a race-high figure only approached by Regally Ready (post 8, Shaun Bridgmohan), whose win in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint accounts for a sizeable chunk of his $1,423,518 bankroll. The 7-year-old gelding has adjusted to longer distances with age, much to the delight of trainer Steve Asmussen.
“What a cool guy he is,” said Asmussen.
Both Silver Max and Regally Ready have terrific early speed, but both figure to be in early pursuit of Free World (post 2, Corey Lanerie), a 4-year-old with a wicked turn of foot. After winning his last four starts of 2013, Free World recently returned with an easy Polytrack score at Arlington Park.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Regally Ready. Trainer Steve Asmussen is 3 for 9 with a whopping $10.42 ROI in turf graded stakes with horses making their third start off a layoff over the past five years. Click for more details. – Matt Bernier
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Asked about race strategy and the apparent abundance of speed in the lineup, his trainer, Tom Amoss, said, “I’m not taking anything away from the horse. I mean, he is what he is.”
If a pace meltdown occurs, then the most likely beneficiaries could be stretch runners Guys Reward (post 1, Jesus Castanon), a five-time winner for Romans over the local turf course, and Villandry (post 6, Julien Leparoux), back in fine form for Charlie LoPresti.
Rounding out the field are Valentino Beauty (post 3, Brian Hernandez Jr.), Nikki’s Sandcastle (post 4, Leandro Goncalves), and Joha (post 7, Joe Rocco Jr.).
First post Saturday is 12:45 p.m. Eastern, with the Firecracker set for 4:18. The Grade 3, $100,000 Bashford Manor and $65,000 Kelly’s Landing also are on tap.
This is the 24th running of the Firecracker, which traditionally had been run July 4 before Churchill cut back its spring schedule a few years ago. The 2013 winner in a memorable renewal was Wise Dan, who prevailed amid a nighttime thunderstorm en route to being voted Horse of the Year for the second straight season.