Stone Silent, Panther Island show diversity in Abundantia, Janus stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Stone Silent and Panther Island, a couple of speedy turf sprint specialists whose best efforts in the past have come when on or with the lead, both proved they were not just one dimensional by rallying from off the pace to ring out the old year Sunday at Gulfstream Park with upset victories in the $100,000 Abundantia and $100,000 Janus stakes.

Stone Silent, whose two previous victories came in gate-to-wire fashion, settled off the early leaders before rallying wide to a 1 3/4-length decision over Choose Joy in the Abundantia. The victory came in the first start for Stone Silent, a 3-year-old daughter of Adios Charlie, since she was purchased by her present owners, Victoriam Farm LLC, out of the Keeneland November sale and turned over to her current trainer Brian Lynch.

Stone Silent completed five furlongs over the firm turf in 55.21 seconds and paid $11.40.

“The boys bought her out of the last Keeneland sale and we settled on this race for her,” said Lynch, who has gotten off to a red-hot start with seven wins during the opening month of the 2023-24 Championship meet.

“They are new guys in the business and they are over the moon about it. She couldn’t have run any better could she? I knew there was a lot of speed in the race and I didn’t want her to get caught up on the front end. She looked like she was traveling well outside the favorite (Twilight Gleaming) on the turn and from there she just ran like we hoped she would. The boys had her booked to be bred, but the way she raced today, I think we might get another year racing out of her.”

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Twilight Gleaming, the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner, was rated off the early leaders, got shuffled back in some traffic on the turn and finished a disappointing third as the 4-5 favorite.

Panther Island, who led at every call to capture an allowance race over the Tapeta course on Dec. 1, rallied from fourth to overtake game pacesetter Extendo and register a three-quarter-length decision in the Janus. Eamonn rallied down the center of the course to finish another half-length farther back in third while falling just short of giving jockey Paco Lopez his fifth win on the card.

It was feast or famine in the Janus for winning trainer Laura Cazares, whose Yes I Am Free, the 9-5 favorite, faltered after prompting the early pace to finish eighth and last.

Panther Island, claimed for $62,500 out of his 2023 debut here in January, is owned by Golden Kernel Racing Stable. Leonel Reyes, who had been aboard the son of Speightstown for all five of his previous wins, put up a flawless ride on the winner again Sunday.

Panther Island ran five furlongs in 54.64 and paid $17.80.

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