Silvestris makes amends

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Silvestris, the beaten favorite when second behind Oprah Winney in the Randaroo Stakes on Dec. 14, turned the tables Monday by recording a 1 1/4-length victory in the $65,430 at Aqueduct.

Livermore Valley, third in the Randaroo, rallied to be second, 4 3/4 lengths ahead of Jet Set Broad. Oprah Winney, the 6-5 favorite coming off her Randaroo victory, faded to last in the field of four.

In the Randaroo, Silvestris broke slowly and was 3 1/2 lengths behind Oprah Winney after a half-mile run in 46.06 seconds. Silvestris rallied to be second, beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

Monday, Silvestris ($5.30) was bumped at the start, but when Eibar Coa took her to the outside soon after the start, Silvestris went up after Oprah Winney and put her away after running a half-mile in 45.16.

Silvestris opened up a 2 1/2-length lead in midstretch, and easily held off Livermore Valley for the win. Silvestris, owned and bred by Darley Stable, covered the six furlongs in 1:11.21 over a good track. She carried 116 pounds, six pounds fewer than Oprah Winney.

"I think probably the biggest thing that helped us today was the shift in weights, plus I think she appreciated the moisture in the track like the day she broke her maiden; very similar type of racetrack,'' said Tom Albertrani, the trainer of Silvestris. "Actually, I thought she would break a little sharper to where she might have been the controlling speed, but the way it worked out everything set up fine for us.''

The victory was the third straight on the day for Coa, whose 25 wins are the most of any rider since Aqueduct's inner track opened.

Albertrani said Silvestris would stay in New York. The next logical spot for her would be the $65,000 Dearly Precious Stakes here on Feb. 20.