Silver Ride takes chance on longer distance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Silver Ride was successful skipping a condition when he went to Keeneland last month. Back in New York on Friday, the new challenge for Silver Ride will be distance when he attempts to go a mile in a third-level allowance/optional $100,000 claimer at Aqueduct.

Silver Ride faces only four rivals in the $78,000 allowance feature, which goes as the third on a nine-race Veterans Day program which begins at 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

Silver Ride, trained by Brian Lynch for Jim and Susan Hill, went just 1 for 8 last year as a 3-year-old. Following the season, Silver Ride had chips taken out of a knee and was gelded. He came off a 10-month layoff to win a first-level allowance race at Saratoga at odds of 38-1 on Sept. 3.

Unable to find a second-level allowance race at Belmont in which he felt comfortable running Silver Ride, Lynch shipped the gelding to Keeneland, where he won a third-level allowance by a half-length. Recount, the third-place finisher from that race, came back to win his next start at Churchill last Saturday.

“We felt good about him going into that race,” Lynch said said of Silver Ride. “There were limited opportunities to run him; races here didn’t go. It was nice to see him step up a condition above his head.”

He is running back at that same condition on Friday, but must try to carry his speed a mile. His two recent wins were at seven furlongs.

“The way he was finishing, it doesn’t look like he’s been backing off any,” Lynch said. “I imagine that he’ll get another eighth of a mile.”

Among Silver Ride’s challengers is Unbridled Juan, a horse Lynch formerly trained but who has spent the last year in Jimmy Jerkens’ barn. Unbridled Juan has been a losing odds-on favorite in three consecutive races, but now backs up to a mile, the distance of three of his victories.

Doyouknowsomething, Ostrolenka, and Fabulous Kid complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Silver Ride, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 90-95-82

◗ Came off bench to record two front-running victories where he pressed solid paces but still finished well and galloped out strong.

“He looks like he should be the pace of that race,” Lynch said. “He’s been hanging on, creeping away going seven-eighths. There’s no reason to say he can’t go a mile.”

Unbridled Juan, by Unbridled’s Song
Last 3 Beyers: 86-87-93

◗ He never has been worse than third in 13 career starts, but his three straight losses as an odds-on favorite make him tough to take at a short price.

◗ He earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure when second here last spring at about even-money.