Stone Silent's speed carries her to Ladies' Turf Sprint triumph

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - After returning quick dividends for her new owners by winning the Abundantia Stakes in her local debut, Stone Silent made it a perfect 2 for 2 since joining trainer Brian Lynch’s barn in pulling away to an even more impressive 2 1/4-length victory over Choose Joy in Sunday’s $100,000 Ladies' Turf Sprint at Gulfstream Park.

Stone Silent was purchased at the Keeneland horses of racing age sale in November by her current owners, Victoriam Farm LLC, and showed a new dimension in her first start for Lynch, rating off the pace under jockey Junior Alvarado before rallying to a 1 3/4-length decision over Choose Joy in the Abundantia.

Stone Silent showed off a little more of her speed in the Ladies' Turf Sprint after breaking alertly from the rail for Alvarado, who eased her back off the early pacesetter Fulminate in the run down the backstretch. Stone Silent eased outside on the turn, readily overtook the leader upon settling into the stretch, quickly drew clear, and was never threatened while kept under pressure to the end.

Choose Joy came widest into the stretch and finished willingly, as usual, despite not switching off her left lead to be second-best, a length in front of Fulminate. Choose Joy has not finished worse than second in 11 starts, with five wins, over the Gulfstream Park turf course.

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Stone Silent, a 4-year-old daughter of Adios Charlie, completed five furlongs over the firm course in 54.56 seconds and returned $4.00.

“I was worried a bit about the one hole today, but she seemed to overcome that and it just seems like she’s trying to get good and it’s a nice time of year to have a filly who is trying to get good,” Lynch said. “This one looked better than the last one and we’ve got one more of these before we get out of here, so we’ll point for that next and see if we can get a three-bagger for the meet.”

Lynch was referring to the $100,000 Captiva Island Stakes, also at five furlongs on the turf, on March 10.

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