Silentio Returns in Citation Handicap

Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's homebred Silentio, third in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), will make his Betfair Hollywood Park debut Nov. 29 in the $250,000 Citation Handicap (gr. IIT).



Scheduled for 1 1/16 miles over the grass, the Citation is one of five graded stakes, headlined by two grade I events—the $250,000 Matriarch for fillies and mares at one mile and the Hollywood Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles—that comprise the Southern California track's three-day Turf Festival.



A 4-year-old son of Silent Name   trained by Gary Mandella sent off at 31-1 odds, Silentio finished 1 1/2 lengths behind winner and reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the Nov. 2 BC Mile at Santa Anita Park.



Winner of the 2012 Sir Beaufort Stakes (gr. IIT), Silentio has won three of nine starts and earned $476,960. This year, Silentio finished second in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT) and third in the Del Mar Mile Handicap and Arcadia, both grade II turf stakes.



As the co-highweight at 119 pounds, Silentio breaks from the 7 post under Rafael Bejarano in the eight-horse Citation field.



Also toting 119 and jockey Corey Nakatani is Winning Prize, a 4-year-old Argentine-bred son of Pure Prize   trained by Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale. Owned by Jose Nelson and David Heerensperger, Winning Prize finished fourth in the Oct. 5 Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. I) that was run over Keeneland's Polytrack surface after track conditions moved the race off the grass.

   

A three-time group I winner in his native country, Winning Prize won an optional claimer by four lengths in his U.S. debut Aug. 22 and he comes in with a record of six wins in 10 starts and earnings of $250,840.



He Be Fire N Ice, a California-bred son of Unusual Heat, ended a streak in which he finished first or second in five consecutive starts when he ran eighth in the Breeders' Cup Mile for trainer John Sadler. He Be Fire N Ice has won five of 15 starts and earned $332,330 and has two wins in three starts over the Hollywood Park turf.



Waterford Stable's Summer Front, who ships in from the East Coast for trainer Christophe Clement, has won seven of 14 starts and banked $534,140. The 4-year-old son of War Front   earlier this year took two grade III stakes—the Miami Mile Handicap and the Cliff Hanger—and mostly recently finished seventh in the Shadwell Turf Mile.



$250,000 Citation Handicap (gr. II, Race 7, approximate post 3:30 p.m. PST), 3YOs & Up, 1 1/16 Miles (Turf)

Horse, PP, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1. My Best Brother (KY), M Garcia, 116, J C Canani

2. Summer Front (KY), J Bravo, 118, C Clement

3. He Be Fire N Ice (CA), V Espinoza, 118, J Sadler

4. Big Bane Theory (CA), J Talamo, 115, C Gaines

5. Bio Pro (KY), M Gutierrez, 115, H Zucker

6. Bright Thought (KY), E A Maldonado, 117, J Gutierrez

7. Silentio (KY), R Bejarano, 119, G Mandella

8. Winning Prize (ARG), C S Nakatani, N D Drysdale