Silver Sassy stays at winning level
MIAMI – The addition of blinkers, stretching out around two turns, and a switch to turf all combined to put Silver Sassy back in the winner’s circle in her last start at odds of 36-1. Which of those factors made the biggest difference might never be known, but what is certain is that the improving 3-year-old will not be nearly as big a price when she wheels right back under similar conditions as one of the favorites in Sunday’s $39,000 allowance feature, scheduled for a mile on turf at Gulfstream Park West.
Silver Sassy, a daughter of Silver Tree, rallied from midpack to a 1 1/4-length victory going a mile against statebreds when registering her second win in five starts at Gulfstream Park on Sept. 27. She’ll be able to run back against first-level allowance types again Sunday because her last victory came in a restricted race.
“I put her on the turf because the sire was a very good grass horse,” said trainer Antonio Machado. “And I put blinkers on because my rider said she was still very green, and he thought the blinkers would help after her previous race.”
The 79 Beyer Speed Figure that Silver Sassy posted in that victory was matched by Hold Me Down in her last start. Hold Me Down finished a late-striding second going 7 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream on Sept. 12 in her first outing since switching to trainer Leon Minott’s barn upon returning from Monmouth Park during the summer.
Other top players in the well-matched field include Sweet Miri, Who’s That Chick, and Discreetly Grand.
Sweet Miri owns the field’s top Beyer, an 80, earned for her easy, wire-to-wire conditioned-claiming victory at Gulfstream in July. She has made one subsequent start, rating just off the lead before coming up a trifle short to finish third while facing allowance competition for the first time four weeks ago.
Who’s That Chick enters the race off a career-best effort, having rallied from just off the leaders to a convincing three-length triumph against $30,000 conditioned claimers while posting a 77 Beyer.
Discreetly Grand has been sent to trainer Ralph Nicks from his father, Morris Nicks, who won two of five starts with the Louisiana-bred, both against restricted company on grass, this season at Fair Grounds and Louisiana Downs.
Race 8
Key Contenders
Silver Sassy (Last 3 Beyers: 79-50-26)
◗ She was ridden for the first time last out by Eddie Castro, who retains the mount.
Hold Me Down (Last 3 Beyers: 79-69-49)
◗ Indicated that she is maintaining her good form with a bullet five-furlong work over the main track here Sept. 26.
Sweet Miri (Last 3 Beyers: 78-80-62)
◗She reunites with apprentice Harry Hernandez, who was aboard for her impressive victory in July.