Silvery Orb looks to back up impressive debut win

Silvery Orb will try to prove her impressive win in her debut for trainer Tom Wenzel was no fluke when she takes the logical step up in class in an allowance race for nonwinners of two or nonwinner-of-three Washington-breds on Saturday at Emerald Downs. The 6 1/2-furlong dash for fillies and mares drew seven horses and goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 2:15 p.m. Pacific.

It wasn’t so much that Silvery Orb won her debut, it was how she did it. Breaking from post 3 with Jose Zunino aboard, she spotted the field quite a few lengths when she got off to a poor start in the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race July 3. Under a patient ride by Zunino, she worked her way into contention from along the rail heading into the turn, moved off the rail on the turn, and finished with determination to win going away.

The 56 Beyer Speed Figure that Silvery Orb received is the best last-race figure in the field, and she has a right to move forward with a race behind her. She also has the pedigree to be a decent horse, as the 3-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Orb is out of the turf stakes winner Girlfriendontheside, who finished third running over a sloppy track in the Grade 3 Schuylerville at Saratoga in her third start.

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Therein lies one of the concerns. Silvery Orb showed an affinity for a surface rated wet-fast in her debut, so it is possible she was aided by the track condition. Another concern is that she will be breaking from the inside post. At the current meet, there has been just one winner from the inside post in the 16 races contested at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Nonetheless, Silvery Orb showed she could overcome adversity in her debut, and as shown by his smart ride in her debut, Zunino is not likely to panic if things do not go well during the early stages of the race.

The main threats appear to be Oreo’s Dream and Unsinkable Molly B.

Oreo’s Dream, trained by Gregory Moore, forced the pace before settling for third at the same level going six furlongs in her first start of the year on June 26. The 4-year-old Washington-bred daughter of Coast Guard closed 2021 with a 4 1/2-length romp in a $25,000 claimer for nonwinners of two and could take a big step forward with a race behind her.

The Bonnie Jenne-trained Unsinkable Molly B came from last to win a maiden special weight race June 19, and with plenty of potential speed in the field, the shape of the race should work for her.

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Suddenly Winning, trained by Kay Cooper, chased Pearl River Delta through a quick half-mile before edging clear in a $25,000 claimer for nonwinners of two in her first start this year on June 10.

Pearl River Delta, who was game in defeat, went into the race off a front-running win in an $8,000 maiden-claimer May 29 for trainer Alan Bozell.