Welder looks sharp for Silver Goblin Stakes

It is an Oklahoma Classics reunion on Friday night at Remington Park, where five horses who last raced in the statebred stakes series meet in the $50,000 Silver Goblin. The runners hail from three different divisions, with Welder, Mr. N, and Star’s Valentino exiting the Sprint; Z Rockstar coming out of the Classic; and Hallelujah Hit moving back to dirt off a start in the Turf.

The Silver Goblin is a 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Oklahoma. The race drew a field of seven, rounded out by Mister Keith and Gospel Abe, who each has made a start since running in this year’s Oklahoma Classics.

Despite the common tie of the Oklahoma Classics, the field is very diversified, said Boyd Finnell, who trains Welder.

“So many of us have never faced each other, so it’s kind of a new bunch,” he said. “It will be interesting.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Welder, by The Visualiser
Last 3 Beyers: 87-88-88

◗ He was second in the Sprint on Oct. 20, his first start following a freshening off a May stakes placing. Welder dueled with Eurobond Oct. 20 through hot fractions and was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by that rival. No other horse this meet has gotten closer to Eurobond, who is 5 for 5 this season at Remington.

“He hadn’t run in months and ran as good as I’d hoped,” Finnell said of Welder. “He came back just a little soft first out. He gave us everything he had. The horse that outrun us, I’m not taking anything away from him. He’s a running machine. If we were fitter, we could have took him to the wire a little further. [Welder] gave him all he had for the fitness we had.”

◗ Welder has used his speed to win three stakes races and he could control the pace in the Silver Goblin. He will break from post 3 under regular rider Travis Cunningham.

“He’s always kind of been a horse that does his work on the front end,” said Finnell, who trains Welder for Ra-Max Farms. “There’s some closing sprinters, and hopefully we can hold those boys off.”

◗ Welder, a winner of 8 of 14 starts, will be invading from a training center near Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla.

“He’s laid back,” Finnell said. “He’s like a big old cat. He’s got a great personality. He doesn’t get shook up about much. He gets excited about raceday.”

Mr. N, by Mr. Nightlinger
Last 3 Beyers: 77-69-89

◗ He closed from well back for third in the Sprint, finishing 5 1/2 lengths behind Eurobond.

◗ Mr. N is proven at the 6 1/2-furlong distance of the Silver Goblin, last winning at the trip in May at Lone Star.

◗ David Cabrera has the mount for owner Henry Witt Jr. and trainer Terry Eoff.