Silver State runs down Hunka Burning Love in Fifth Season Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Silver State secured his third straight win Saturday, when he battled to the wire for a nose victory over Hunka Burning Love in the $150,000 Fifth Season at Oaklawn Park.

The race was one of two stakes on the card for older horses. Getridofwhatailesu won the $150,000 Pippin for fillies and mares just minutes after her trainer, Brad Cox, saddled Knicks Go to victory in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park.

The races at Oaklawn were both run at a mile and ended at the sixteenth pole.

Silver State ($3.80) let the pace go as Hunka Burning Love was clear through an opening quarter in 23.70 seconds, a half-mile in 47.68, and six furlongs in 1:12.53. The eventual winner took after the leader and covered the distance on a fast track in 1:37.77.

Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen, one of three wins the team had on the card Saturday.

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Silver State is a son of Hard Spun – the same sire as Friday’s opening-day Smarty Jones Stakes winner, Caddo River. Silver State races for the partnership of Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing. The horse was winning around two turns for the first time and entered the Fifth Season off back-to-back allowance wins at seven furlongs, one at Keeneland and the other at Churchill Downs.

Silver State has now won 4 of 8 starts for earnings of $330,094.

Another stakes win for Cox

Getridofwhatailesu gave Cox his second stakes win during the opening week at Oaklawn, following Caddo River's victory in the $150,000 Smarty Jones on Friday.

Getridofwhatailesu ($19.20) was making her first start since an allowance win last March at Oaklawn. She closed from next to last for a 1 1/2-length win over Our Super Freak. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Istan Council.

Getridofwhatailesu covered the distance on a fast track in 1:38.56.

Joe Rocco Jr. was aboard Saturday.

Getridofwhatailesu is a daughter of Ghostzapper who races for The Elkstone Group. She was winning her first stakes Saturday and is 4 for 7 overall for earnings of $259, 197.