Sterling Silver edges Leeloo for Iroquois victory

Sterling Silver delivered at 2-5 on Sunday, when she ran down Leeloo in the late stages for a neck victory in the $150,000 Iroquois at Aqueduct.

It was another 6 3/4 lengths back in third to Captainsdaughter.

The Iroquois was one of eight stakes worth a cumulative $1.6 million on the annual Empire Showcase card. The Iroquois, which is for fillies and mares over 6 1/2 furlongs, was the female counterpart to the $150,000 Hudson that was won by Rotknee.

Sterling Silver ($2.80) settled off the pace set by Leeloo, who led through an opening quarter in 22.67 seconds and a half-mile in 46.03. Sterling Silver advanced down the backside, moved up farther while racing three wide on the turn, and ran down the leader in the stretch. Sterling Silver covered the distance on a muddy, sealed track in 1:16.47.

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“We were much the best today, it was a good setup,” winning rider Javier Castellano told the New York Racing Association. “They went pretty quick early and she’s a come-from-behind type of horse, so that helped us. She got up right on the wire. She’s getting better and better.”

Sterling Silver was such a short price after finishing first in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom by four lengths Oct. 1 at Aqueduct. But she was disqualified and placed second for interference in the stretch. She rebounded with the third stakes victory of her career Sunday.

Tom Albertrani trains Sterling Silver for Mark Anderson. She is a daughter of Cupid. Sterling Silver has now won 6 of 18 starts for earnings of $652,988.

In the Hudson, Rotknee ($10.80) was always prominent en route to a length win over Ny Traffic. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back in third to Thin White Duke.

Rotknee completed an Empire Showcase double for his breeder and owner, William Butler and trainer Mike Maker. Earlier on the card, Rotknee’s half-sister, My Mane Squeeze, won the Maid of the Mist. Rotknee is by Runhappy. Both horses are from the mare In Spite of Mama.

Jose Lezcano was aboard Rotknee, who pressed fractions of 21.77 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.36 for the half-mile before going on to cover 6 1/2 furlongs on a muddy, sealed track in 1:16.23.

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