Charlie's Penny Shines in Silverbulletday
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Photo: Hodges Photography / Jan Brubaker
Charlie's Penny strikes in the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course
The Road to the Kentucky Oaks through Louisiana has been well-traveled of late, and the path in 2021 began Jan. 16 as Lothenbach Stables' homebred Charlie's Penny pulled clear in the lane to win the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
The win, by 3 1/2 lengths, came at the expense of odds-on favorite Sun Path and second choice Souper Sensational, who ran second for Live Oak Plantation. The mile and 70 yards went in 1:43.80, as Charlie's Penny secured 10 points toward a spot in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).
A field of nine was scratched down to six with the departures of Minute Waltz, Princess Theorem, and Divine Comedy. Littletitious took the early lead through an opening quarter in :25.66 and a half in :49.96 as Sun Path gave chase while under a snug hold by Florent Geroux. Charlie's Penny and Moon Swag tracked as the field made their way down the backstretch. Littletitious remained in front as the field went into the second bend as she was challenged by Sun Path and Charlie's Penny.
As the mile went in 1:39.77, Charlie's Penny (9-1) had a clear lead and drove to the line under Brian Hernandez Jr. Moon Swag finished three-quarters of a length behind Souper Sensational.
"She was able to get herself in a nice position quickly going around the first turn, and then once she got outside of (Sun Path), she just traveled nicely with her ears up the whole way and I could always tell she was going to respond when I needed her to," Hernandez said. "She finished off really, really nicely. She's done that in her races in the past. She finishes off running. Today was her first time at two turns but there was no question about it—she was the best horse."
The Silverbulletday was the fifth start for the Minnesota-bred. After breaking her maiden at first asking at Arlington International Racecourse for trainer Chris Block, she ran fourth in the Glorious Song Stakes at Woodbine, a race won by Souper Sensational. Charlie's Penny shipped to Churchill Downs to win an allowance optional claiming heat at 6 1/2 furlongs, then was third at Fair Grounds in the Letellier Memorial Stakes. She has earned $173,890.
"We thought maybe she might be strictly a sprinter but this was here; we thought we'd give the two turns a shot," Block said. "Brian did a fantastic job around the first turn getting her out and settled in there behind what was a slow pace, which I think benefited us to a degree. In the middle of the turn I could see he had a ton of horse. When she ranged up there on the outside turning for home, I've seen her level off really well going short, and I thought if she could do that going long, we're going to be OK."
Unraced Sweet Lorraine (by Warrior's Reward ), the dam of the Silverbulletday winner, is also the dam of 2019 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Mom's Red Lipstick, a full sister to Charlie's Penny. Sweet Lorraine has been bred to the red-hot Munnings for 2021.
Next up at Fair Grounds is the Feb. 13 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2). Recent Kentucky Oaks winners to prep in Louisiana are Serengeti Empress (2019), Monomoy Girl (2018), Lovely Maria (2015), and Untapable (2014).
"We'll see how she comes out of this and I would guess (the Rachel Alexandra) would be what we would think next," Block said. "We're here, she ran well over this surface, ran well going two turns which was the test today, and that seems like the logical next spot."