by Myra Lewyn

Trainer Dallas Stewart sent out Silverfoot on Friday at Arlington Park to try to halt a ten-race winless stretch and register his first victory since his return from a year-long layoff, and the gray or roan gelding emphatically delivered.

Chrysalis Stables’s homebred Silverfoot raced in last early, readily responded from the inside as Rene Douglas urged his rally on the turn, and collared pacesetter Rumor Has It at the top of the stretch for a convincing two-length triumph in the $175,000 Stars and Stripes Turf Handicap (G3) at the suburban Chicago track.

“I took my time with him,” said Douglas, who rode the eight-year-old With Approval gelding for the first time. “I did something different with him. I stayed on the rail. The past performances show that he usually makes his move on the outside. At the three-eighths pole, he knew he was the man. I said to myself, ‘It’s a little early to pull the trigger, and I know he’s eight years old, but if you want to go, then go.’ He was a champion today.”

Rumor Has It sprinted to a clear lead early and opened a commanding 12-length lead though a mile in 1:39.42 while Silverfoot relaxed in ninth then eighth in the nine-horse field.

Silverfoot sliced into Rumor Has It’s four-length lead on the final turn before overtaking that foe in upper stretch after he was angled out by Douglas. He drew off late while easily turning back a nonthreatening late rally from Telling to win in 2:30.40 for 1 1/2 miles on turf rated as good.

Telling, at odds of 14.20-to-1, finished one length in front of third-place finisher Canela, sent off at odds of 35.50-to-1. Canadian champion turf male Cloudy’s Knight raced off the pace and offered a mild late rally, but could get no closer than fourth. Multiple graded stakes winner Lattice, the 3-to-2 favorite, had no response when rallied by Julien Leparoux and finished last.

Silverfoot, the 5-to-1 third choice, won for the first time since capturing the 1 3/8-mile Louisville Handicap (G3) for the third time on May 29, 2006. After finishing ninth in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs that season, he was sidelined for all of 2007.

Out of stakes winner Northern Silver, by Silver Ghost, Silverfoot improved to ten wins in 31 career starts, including his victory in the 2005 Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes (G3) at Kentucky Downs.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times Today editor