Steve Flint looks for breakthrough

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The first win will come soon enough, maybe even by Friday afternoon. Steve Flint, having recently taken over the talent-rich stable owned by the Klein family, was a bit downhearted Wednesday after his charge Exotic Wager lost in the third race at Churchill Downs.

"That's 0 for 6 right there," said Flint, who assumed the Klein horses from his father, Bernie, after Outofthebox won the Grade 1 Super Derby on Sept. 23 for the Kleins.

The next chance for the younger Flint to win for the Kleins will come Friday, when Summer Spirit, ridden by Jorge Chavez, takes on seven rivals in the ninth-race feature, a $46,800 allowance.

Summer Spirit captured two straight races on dirt before Flint put her on grass, where her modest win streak came to an end. "She's by Beau Genius, so we felt like we needed to try," said Flint. "We're back where we belong Friday."

If Summer Spirit cannot recapture her best form, then several others appear capable of taking charge. Foremost among them is Lookaway Dixieland, a late-running filly who drew post 2 in the 1 1/16-mile race. The other starters are Diamond Bracelet, Red N'Gold, Unique Dancer, Moon Singer, Katy Kat, and Ide Rather Not.

The secondary feature on the 10-race card, a $44,800 entry-level allowance route for fillies and mares, goes as the eighth.

Silent Stream springs upset

Silent Stream pulled away after contesting the pace to win the Wednesday feature, a $59,800 turf allowance for fillies and mares. Ricky Moss was aboard for owner Delmar Daubs and Leah Greene and trainer Shirley Greene.

Silent Stream finished 3 1/2 lengths ahead of K.C.'s Gift, completing one mile in 1:36.04 over a firm course. She returned $16 to win.

Instinct, the slight favorite, finished third in a field of 10 fillies and mares, while second choice Tell It was fifth.

* Trainer Carl Nafzger has a strong candidate for the Nov. 24 Golden Rod Stakes in Belterra, an Unbridled filly who stayed unbeaten in two starts with an impressive 10 1/2-length victory in an entry-level allowance on the Wednesday undercard.

"She just does everything so easy," said Nafzger, who also won another allowance later in the card with Brave ($7.20).

* Chavez notched his first victory of the Churchill meet with Kernitre ($13.60) in the fourth race Wednesday. This is Chavez's first full Churchill meet.

for entries.

Subscribers, to purchase Past Performances.

Non-subscribers, to purchase Past Performances.