Silver State makes Oaklawn Handicap fifth consecutive win

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Silver State won his fifth consecutive race Saturday when he charged to a half-length victory over Fearless in the first $1 million running of the Oaklawn Handicap.

It was another length back in third to favorite Express Train.

Silver State became a millionaire with the win, which came on the birthday of his co-owner Willis Horton.

The Oaklawn Handicap was the first of two seven-figure stakes on the card. The Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap drew champions Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver. The stakes closed out the $4.9 million Racing Festival of the South, which was comprised of eight major stakes over the first three Saturdays in April. Oaklawn is racing through May 1.

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Silver State ($11.40) was content to let the pace go, settling in the second flight along the rail as Warrior’s Charge took the field through fractions of 22.73 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.06 for the half-mile, and 1:11.67 for six furlongs - with Fearless and Express Train in close pursuit.

Silver State advanced along the rail on the final turn, was guided off the fence coming to the quarter pole, moved outside the leaders in the stretch and barreled down the middle of the track under regular rider Ricardo Santana Jr. He covered the 1 1/8 miles on a track upgraded to fast in 1:49.56. Silver State was given a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Ricardo was very patient with him and put him on the right part of the racetrack late,” winning trainer Steve Asmussen said in an interview broadcast by Oaklawn.

Asmussen and Santana thus won their fourth Festival stakes, behind the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby with Super Stock; the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy with Pauline’s Pearl; and the $200,000 Purple Martin with Abrogate. It was the first Oaklawn Handicap win for the men who lead their respective standings this meet at Oaklawn.

Silver State began his win streak last fall, when he won two allowance sprints in Kentucky. He opened his 4-year-old season with a win in the $150,000 Fifth Season at Oaklawn on Jan. 23, then captured the track’s $500,000 Essex Handicap one start later, on March 13.

Winchell Thoroughbreds owns Silver State with Arkansas resident Horton. Horton turned 81 on Saturday, according to the publicity department at Oaklawn.

Silver State earned $600,000 for his win to improve his career record to 6 for 10 for earnings of $1,230,094.

Express Train invaded from Southern California off a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap.

“I had a really good trip,” jockey Juan Hernandez told publicity at Oaklawn. “When I asked him to go, he responded really well. We just got beat this time.”

The Oaklawn Handicap was run under sunny skies and before fans on both the apron and infield. The first four races were run on a muddy, sealed track, before the surface was upgraded to good, then fast for the Oaklawn Handicap.

Silver State is a son of Hard Spun and was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.