Silver Tongued will keep off the pace in Sydney Gendelman Memorial

CINCINNATI – Silver Tongued will be looking for his second consecutive win when he starts in the $50,000 Sydney Gendelman Memorial Handicap on Sunday at Belterra Park. Trained by Jeff Greenhill, Silver Tongued won the allowance prep for the Gendelman on June 1 by 3 3/4 lengths when sent off as the 7-5 favorite. The 4-year-old gelding was kept just off the early pace in the one-mile prep before drawing off in the stretch. There is an abundance of early speed in the field of 10 Ohio-registered older horses going 1 1/16 miles, and that off-the-pace style should suit him well. In his first start of the year on May 17, Silver Tongued finished second in a six-furlong statebred allowance race.

Last year, Silver Tongued won only one race, the $75,000 Cleveland Gold Cup at ThistleDown. Greenhill is having a breakout year, with his horses winning 21 of 75 races for a 28 percent win ratio. He is currently 6 for 13 at Belterra Park for a 46 percent win ratio through Thursday. Lori Wydick retains the mount.

Only Boy will be one of the horses gunning for the lead when he tries to remain unbeaten in Ohio this year. Trained by Penny Rone, Only Boy won the $50,000 Rowland Memorial on May 18 at ThistleDown. It was the first time Only Boy had run in Ohio since Best of Ohio Day last October. The 6-year-old gelding was campaigned in Louisiana late last year until February 7 of this year when he was claimed by Rone for Mark Kuntz and David Hix for $10,000. Others in the field include Raise the Reward, Master Rocket, Fuzzy Dee Jay, Plain Ol’ Williard, Hehaz Given, Honey Let’s Sho, John Galt, and Uncle Virgil.

The Gendelman has a post time of 4:24 p.m. Eastern and goes as race 7 on Sunday’s eight-race card.