Silver Strings tougher on turf

ELMONT, N.Y. - Lisa Lewis knows it sounds a bit like redboarding, but she really did believe Silver Strings would be a better horse on turf than on dirt. She just didn't expect her to be that much better.

After finishing sixth in her debut on dirt on April 6, Silver Strings romped to a five-length maiden win over Belmont's Widener turf course on May 6. Friday, Silver Strings takes on winners for the first time in an entry-level allowance race that serves as the feature on Friday's card. First post is 3 p.m.

is a daughter of Tactical Cat out of the Carson City mare Harp Attack, who went 5 for 13 on the turf. In Silver Strings' turf debut, she stalked a moderate pace, took over when asked, and drew clear to win comfortably. She ran one mile in 1:36.10 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

"It's easy to say after they win that you thought all along she'd be turf," Lewis said Wednesday afternoon from Saratoga, where she has moved her entire 20-horse stable. "But she really did make you feel like she was turf as far as her action, and her family did have turf influence. We didn't expect her to run as well as she did and make that big of an improvement. It's exciting."

Lewis said that Silver Strings is a nervous sort, and she feared the filly would not react well to having to spend six hours in the security barn. But Lewis said Silver Strings handled it like a pro.

"It didn't bother her at all," she said.

Silver Strings will break from the rail under Fernando Jara and highweight of 122 pounds.

Ninety-five minutes after Silver Strings won, Who's Cozy won the other half of the May 6 split-division maiden race. She set the pace while in hand and covered one mile in 1:35.06, earning a Beyer Figure of 87. Jose Santos rides for Linda Rice.

appeared to have won this allowance condition on May 19, but just before the wire, Santos inadvertently struck another horse in the face with the whip and Dream Lady was disqualified. Friday, Jerry Bailey takes over the reins for Bobby Frankel.

, a sharp maiden winner at The Meadowlands last October, drops into allowance company after three stakes tries. John Velazquez rides Dynamist for trainer Michael Dickinson.

Moyne Abbey and Parisiana complete the field on turf. Devine Will is entered in case the race is transferred to the main track.