Silvera seeks repeat victory

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Laurie Silvera will try to win the Bold Ruckus Stakes for the second year in a row Wednesday at Woodbine, when he sends out Stately Clock in the six-furlong turf race. Eight other Ontario-sired 3-year-olds were entered in the $134,875 event.

Stately Clock has made all six of his starts on the main track for owner and breeder Silverbrook Stable. He graduated his second time out, in a seven-furlong maiden special, but was a disappointing sixth in his final 2-year-old outing, the restricted Kingarvie Stakes.

"I might have been daydreaming, but I thought he could have won the Kingarvie," Silvera said. "I felt so good about him in that race, but he threw a clunker in there. His first race this year was not a good one, either, but then each race got better."

After finishing fifth in his season opener, Stately Clock was fourth in an open allowance over a sloppy track on May 9. He earned a solid Beyer Speed Figure of 87 most recently when he ran second behind the front-running 4-year-old Knightly Ease in a six-furlong allowance for Ontario-sired runners.

"I thought his last race was outstanding," Silvera said. "He's definitely on the improve. He's a big horse, and he's kind of settled down of late. He's just doing well in general."

Silvera said he believes that Stately Clock has sufficient credentials to handle the grass. A son of Dr. Adagio, Stately Clock worked a half-mile over the turf training course in 49 seconds on May 21.

"He certainly has enough pedigree which suggests turf," Silvera said. "His dam is a half-sister to Freefourinternet, who was an outstanding turf horse. She herself is by Red Ransom." Dr. Adagio, Silvera noted, has produced some horses who run on the turf.

Stately Clock, Silvera said, "worked very well on the turf. He was under a nice, snug hold in that work."

Silvera has given the call to Emile Ramsammy, who was aboard Tusayan when he took the 2003 Bold Ruckus for Silvera.

Completing the field are Dashing Admiral, Rodeo Fun, Imperial Alydeed, Archers Bow, Bottom Bay, Financingavailable, and One to Celebrate.

Dashing Admiral, a Kiridashi colt trained by Sid Attard, was won both of his starts at five furlongs on the dirt. He graduated against $50,000 maidens in November, and captured an Ontario-sired allowance April 30.

Dashing Admiral drilled five-eighths in a bullet 58.80 over the turf training course May 30, but all three of his half-siblings who tried the grass were unplaced.