Silver State Holds Off Rated R Superstar in Essex
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Photo: Coady Photography
Silver State (inside) holds off Rated R Superstar to win the Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park
Silver State has been highly regarded by his connections from the start.
The son of Hard Spun ran second in the 2020 Lecomte Stakes (G3) and third in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2), but after a seventh-place finish in the 2020 Twinspires Louisiana Derby (G2), he went to the sideline with a seven-month gap between races.
Time can often work wonders, and March 13 Silver State continued to reward the patience of trainer Steve Asmussen and his owners as he carried on to a four-length win streak and turned back a determined rival in Rated R Superstar to win the $500,000 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park.
"It's a great partnership with the Hortons as well as the Winchells; they've done so much for me and have such a quality horse," Asmussen said. "He showed a lot of talent last year and we were obviously dreaming of (the Kentucky) Derby (G1), but you saw how big of a horse he is. We gave him the necessary time and he's come back and put together four in a row."
Emerging again Oct. 22 to land a seven-length allowance score at Keeneland, Silver State then picked up a Nov. 27 allowance/optional claiming score at Churchill Downs before continuing on to Oaklawn to win the Jan. 23 Fifth Season Stakes by a nose over Hunka Burning Love.
The 4-year-old colt found another determined rival Saturday in Rated R Superstar, who gave him a run for his money in late stretch of the 1 1/16-mile Essex.
Sent off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of six from post 5 under Ricardo Santana Jr., Silver State rated well off the pace in fifth as Harpers First Ride and Green Light Go matched strides through early fractions of :23.57 and :47.67. As three-quarters went in 1:12.22, Santana sent Silver State to the lead with a bold rally while Night Ops and Rated R Superstar also ranged up, setting up a five-horse cavalry charge as the field turned for home.
Silver State ($4.40) cleared his rivals while straightening out in the drive for home, but Rated R Superstar loomed after making a last-to-first rally. The two battled in deep stretch, but Silver State had more to give and notched the score by a neck in a final time of 1:42.73. It was 1 3/4 lengths back to defending Essex Handicap winner Night Ops in third. The order of finish was completed by Harpers First Ride, Green Light Go, and Uphold. Tax was scratched.
Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings bred Silver State in Kentucky out of the stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Supreme. He is the fourth winner from as many starters from his dam, who has since produced a 2-year-old Candy Ride colt and a yearling Uncle Mo colt.
Winchell Thoroughbreds paid $450,000 for Silver State at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent for Stonestreet Bred and Raised. He improved his record to 5-2-1 from nine starts, with earnings of $630,094.
Asmussen did not specify a future target for Silver State. The April 10 Oaklawn Mile and the April 17 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/8 miles are upcoming races with suitable conditions at the Arkansas track.
"He's had two stakes wins in a row, both here at Oaklawn Park, which we're very proud of," Asmussen said. "We've been giving him plenty of time between races and will continue to do that."