Silver Timber bests Heros Reward

Silver Timber went from the claim box to a graded stakes winner in the short span of only three races.

A gray 6-year-old gelding, Silver Timber won the on the turf Saturday at Belmont Park. It was the third straight win of what turned into an interesting odyssey.

It started at Gulfstream Park, where Silver Timber got up in the final strides and was claimed for $25,000 by trainer Chad Brown for Michael Dubb and High Grade Racing Stables.

Back at Belmont, Silver Timber captured a second-level optional claimer for New York breds.

From there he took the leap to become a graded winner in a hard-fought effort.

The Jaipur was essentially a two-horse race.

Heros Reward, who went over $1 million in career earnings, and Silver Timber hooked up through blazing fractions of 21.71 and 44.53 seconds.

They were inseparable for five furlongs until Silver Timber ($9.20) edged clear, prevailing by 1 1/2 lengths with Eibar Coa aboard.

"I was little worried early that they were going too fast, but at the top of the stretch I thought we had a little more horse," Brown said. "Mr. Dubb had always liked this horse, and he told me to go take a peek at him when he was in at Gulfstream."

Heros Reward stayed on well for second while Due Date made a late run to get third. Le Grand Cru was fourth, followed by Yield Bogey.

The time was 1:07.60 for the six furlongs on the firm course.

* Quality Road is on target to launch his comeback in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes for 3-year-olds on Aug. 3 at Saratoga.

It will be his first start since a track-record victory in the Florida Derby, and a subsequent trainer change from Jimmy Jerkens to Todd Pletcher by owner Edward P. Evans.

Projected to be one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby, Quality Road never made the race after developing a quarter crack.

Quality Road worked Friday morning, going five furlongs in 1:01.41 at Belmont

"He worked well and everything is on schedule for the Amsterdam," said Pletcher.