Silverfoot back at 9 with a victory

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Back from a winter break at age 9 in The Tin Man Stakes on Saturday at Arlington, Silverfoot returned ready to roll. Getting a good inside run under jockey Chris Emigh, Silverfoot found his best stride at about the sixteenth pole, and finished just fast enough to nip Public Speaker in the $50,000 The Tin Man.

Silverfoot, trained for his comeback by trainer Dallas Stewart, won the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes Handicap on this course last summer at age 8. And given his sharp performance Saturday, Silverfoot may still be a graded stakes horse. Racing toward the back of the pack as longshot Rumor Has It set a fast pace, going the first quarter-mile in 23.94 seconds, and the half in 47.61, Silverfoot glided into contention turning for home. Emigh fished around for a hole in midstretch, saw room down inside, and dove toward the rail just as Silverfoot quickened. The late burst proved just good enough, as Silverfoot was up by a head over Public Speaker.

Public Speaker swerved out just before the finish and was disqualified from second to fourth. Embossed was moved up from third to second, and General Charley from fourth to third.

Silverfoot ($8.20), was timed in 1:49.83 for 1 1/8 miles.

Nicole's Dream: Losing streak ends

The 6-year-old mare Taylor Madison ended an 11-month losing streak Saturday with a half-length win over Candy Cane in the $53,300 Nicole's Dream Stakes.

Taylor Madison had lost 10 straight starts, and her mild upset in the Nicole's Dream marked her first win on turf. Her cause was helped by the fact that the two favorites in the five-furlong grass race, 7-5 Taletobetold and 5-2 Goldinthepocket, both failed to show up. Taletobetold stalked the pace and was done before hitting the top of the stretch. Goldinthepocket led to the eighth pole, but then gave way badly.

Meanwhile, Jesse Campbell had taken Taylor Madison inside after breaking from post 8. As the pacesetters backed up, Campbell found a hole and came between horses, and Taylor Madison was able to hold clear outside-running 16-1 shot Candy Cane. Pleasant Review rallied mildly about two paths off the rail to finish third.

Taylor Madison ($21.40), trained by Mike Dini, was timed in 57.53 seconds for five furlongs on firm turf.