Calhoun Readies Silver Dust, Digital, By My Standards

One year ago and 17 races into his career, Tom Durant's talented underachiever Silver Dust was still in search of a breakthrough stakes victory. A winner just once from his first 15 starts, the now 6-year-old son of Tapit  had graded stakes talent but more often than not found a way to beat himself.

Fast-forward a year as he nears a return in the $100,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 18, Silver Dust is now a two-time graded stakes winner with a pair of placings in such events. 

"He's always had that kind of ability, but his antics stunted his progress," trainer Bret Calhoun said. "He was bad in the paddock, bad in the gate, tough to ride. We gelded him last summer, but even that wasn't a cure-all. Two races after the procedure, he flipped in the gate and had to be scratched. It's just taken him a long time to mature. He still pulls his stunts at times. He's gotten pretty smart and knows the difference between the mornings and afternoons. He can be perfect when schooling, but you still can't trust him on race day."

A winner of a first-level allowance in November 2018 at Churchill Downs, Silver Dust followed with another allowance score at Fair Grounds. A game second in the Louisiana Stakes followed, and the performance was good enough to earn him a crack in the Mineshaft Handicap (G3) four weeks later. There, Silver Dust pulled off the minor 5-1 upset under jockey Jack Gilligan, his regular rider for much of the past year.

"I can't say enough about the job Jack has done with this horse," Calhoun said. "He's learned how the horse needs to be ridden and has made good decisions at critical times in some of those big races. He always seems to put the horse in a good position and is just a passenger when he needs to be."

In his most recent start Sept. 28, Silver Dust finished second in the Lukas Classic Stakes (G3) at Churchill. According to Calhoun, a local six-furlong breeze in 1:12 3/5 should have the screws tightened. 

"We gave him a freshening since the race at Churchill," Calhoun said. "Just a little breather, but we've had him back on the work tab for a little while now. He's ready to go. He's been training really well, and we're excited about the new year with him."

Silver Dust has a record of 24-5-7-2 and earnings of $642,277. 

Maiden Winner Digital to Route in His Next Start

According to Calhoun, Durant's Digital, a sharp maiden sprint winner Dec. 28 at second asking at Fair Grounds, will be asked to tackle a route for his next assignment. 

"We're going to point him towards a two-turn allowance race at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17," Calhoun said. "If that race doesn't go, we'll think about going in the Lecomte (a grade 3 the following day). I don't necessarily want to go in the Lecomte just because he's never been two turns."

A buzz horse on the Churchill backstretch before he ever competed in the afternoon, the 3-year-old son of Into Mischief  was bet down to 6/5 favoritism against 11 rivals, then settled for second behind 24-1 stablemate Mailman Money. 

"We expected him to win that race first time out (at Churchill)," Calhoun said. "He just broke slow and got left on a sloppy and speed-biased track, and the winner ran a really good race."

Odds-on in his follow-up start four weeks later at Fair Grounds, Digital was not to be denied. Sitting fourth of 11 early on behind hot fractions on a muddy track, he made a bold move in the stretch and ran by Steely Danza by 1 3/4 lengths under Brian Hernandez Jr.

"I thought his win was impressive," Calhoun said. "He has always been a very forward-type horse, so we were actually a little surprised. It was really professional. It looked like he did it easily within himself. He sat just off them and cruised down the lane.

"I like what Brian told me when he got back," Calhoun said. "He said this horse can and wants to go farther. That's always the hope with a talented, young horse like this, but until they do it, you just don't know. Brian's a good judge of horse flesh and has a pretty good idea of their distance capabilities."

In his first work back following the maiden win, Digital breezed an easy half-mile in :50 4/5 Jan. 9 at Fair Grounds. 

By My Standards Working Toward February Return

Allied Racing Stable's 2019 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) upset winner By My Standards posted his fifth local work since late November on Thursday as he eases his way into his 4-year-old campaign for Calhoun. 

In his second consecutive five-furlong breeze, the son of Goldencents  stopped the timer in 1:00 4/5 on a fast track. 

"We're not exactly sure yet where he's going to show up," Calhoun said. "I do know he's training great right now and is doing everything we ask him to very easily. I think a return sometime in February is most likely for him."

By My Standards last raced in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), finishing 11th. He is a two-time winner from six starts.

Green Day to Day With Ankle Injury

Aubrie Green took off all of her Thursday mounts as a result of an ankle injury suffered in the final race Jan. 5 caused when her mount, Stang's Galaxy, flipped in the gate. The filly was scratched.

X-rays were negative, but she will be taking her comeback on a day-to-day basis.

"I have a sprained left ankle," Green said. "I tried to work some horses this morning, but I'm just not 100%. I need to give the ankle a little more rest so I can give my owners and trainers a good ride."

Green has five wins from 88 mounts at the Fair Grounds stand, including a score with Pound for Pound in the Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes.