NEWS
Silverfoot sails on the rail for Kentucky Cup Turf romp
Posted: Saturday, September 24, 2005
A little European-style racetrack on the Kentucky-Tennessee border was the site of a big victory on Saturday for Silverfoot, who won the $200,000 Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap (G3), the highlight of four stakes on the Kentucky Cup Turf Festival card at Kentucky Downs.The ear-shaped track, built on a farm known in the 19th century as place where duelists met to settle "affairs of honor," seemed just right place for the dazzling light gray Silverfoot to once again meet an old nemesis in nine-year-old Rochester, winner of the 1 1/2-mile contest in 2002 and in '03 [via disqualification] and runner-up last year.
The pair had met twice previously, both times at Churchill Downs in editions of the Louisville Handicap (G3), with Silverfoot defeating Rochester by a nose in 2004 and by three-quarters of a length in this year's 1 3/8-mile race on May 30.
Although the location was different on Saturday, the end result was the same. With Rafael Bejarano guiding him, Silverfoot defeated Rochester after a masterful run from the back of the eight-horse field up along the inside rail on the undulating track. The five-year-old With Approval gelding, sent off as the 7-to-5 favorite, won by 6 3/4 lengths while completing the trip in 2:30.30 on a firm course. Gallo Del Bar (Chi) finished third.
After finishing a close second to Better Talk Now in the United Nations Stakes (G1) this summer at Monmouth Park, Silverfoot failed to fire in the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (G1), finishing seventh at Saratoga Race Course in his race before the Kentucky Cup Turf. With Saturday's win, his record improves to three wins in five starts this year and eight wins in 15 starts overall for owner-breeder Stephanie Clark's Chrysalis Stables. The $124,000 winner's share boosted his career earnings to $576,745.
Silverfoot is out of the Silver Ghost mare Northern Silver.
Bejarano booted in winners of two other stakes on Saturday as John Eaton's and Steve Laymon's Miss Wellspring made all the pace to win the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Ladies Turf Stakes and Stella Thayer's Seeking Answers (Ire) captured the $50,000 Yaqthan Stakes by two lengths.
Also on the card, Stud Raca's Brazilian Group 1 winner Durban Thunder (Brz) triumphed by a head in the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Turf Dash Stakes.
See charts, courtesy of Equibase at
http://www.equibase.com
