Stone Silent takes rail route to victory in Captiva Island

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Stone Silent completed an unprecedented sweep of the filly and mare turf sprint series held each winter at Gulfstream Park by rallying up the rail to a half-length decision over Future Is Now in the $100,000 Captiva Island Stakes on Saturday.

Sol Hope finished third.

Stone Silent, purchased by her current owners Victorian Farm LLC in November, won the Abundantia Stakes and Lady’s Turf Sprint earlier in the meet. All three races in the series were decided at five furlongs. Stone Silent is trained by Brian Lynch and was ridden to victory in all three races by Junior Alvarado.

Stone Silent had her head in front early before easing back off the pacesetter Future Is Now on the far turn. After getting shuffled briefly back to fourth midway on the bend, Stone Silent was sent hard to re-engage the leader nearing midstretch before ultimately proving best under vigorous urging from Alvarado. Future Is Now was easily second-best, finishing two lengths in front of Sol Hope, who rallied mildly down the center of the course to best the others while never menacing the top two.

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Stone Silent, a 4-year-old daughter of Adios Charlie, completed the distance in 55.16 seconds over a firm course and paid $3.40.

“It was a good trip until the quarter pole,” Alvarado said. “I was trying to find my way through and didn’t have any choice but to go to the rail. She got a little intimidated when I first tried to go in there and after that she pushed through it and was probably much the best in the race. She’s all class. Very professional and straightforward.”

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