Silver Prospector Runs Down Mish in Steve Sexton Mile

Completing a banner day for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and veteran jockey Stewart Elliott at Lone Star Park May 30, Ed and Susie Orr's Silver Prospector stormed home leaving the second turn for a 1 1/2-length victory in the $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile (G3).

Florida invader Mish  led the field from start to midstretch, setting early fractions of :24 and :46.99, while Elliott placed Silver Prospector 2 1/4 lengths off the pace down the backstretch. Then nearing the six-furlong stage in the race, Silver Prospector made his move, racing just behind the leader until midstretch before taking command. 

Mish stubbornly held second, with California invader and 2-1 favorite Shaaz  in third by a neck. Popular Kid  was fourth.

The winner, a 5-year-old son of Declaration of War , raced a mile on a fast track in 1:37.20. He paid $13.

"We've got some unbelievably nice horses in our barn, and they really showed up on a day here in Texas that is very important to us," said Asmussen, who teamed with Elliott to win four races Monday, three in stake. "Silver Prospector is such a talented runner for his owners Ed and Susie Orr, who have done a great job of campaigning him. It's very special to win this race because of how important the late Steve Sexton was to Lone Star Park, and how much Lone Star Park means to me. What a beautiful win, and it sure means a lot to us."

At 2, Silver Prospector was victorious in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs before posting a decisive score in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park at 3 in 2020. In the Steve Sexton Mile, he increased his earnings to more than $1.2 million.

Bred in Kentucky by Hargus and Sandra Sexton, and Silver Fern Farm, Silver Prospector is one of two stakes winners produced from the stakes-placed Tapit   mare Tap Softly . The other stakes winner is Summertime Magic  (Carpe Diem  ), who improved to 2-for-2 in taking the Ruling Angel Stakes May 21 at Woodbine.

Tap Softly's youngest foals include a yearling colt by Omaha Beach   and a War of Will   filly foaled this year.

Consigned by Eisaman Equine to the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Silver Prospector was purchased by the Orrs for $190,000. 

A couple of races earlier on the Monday card, California invaders ran 1-2 in the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff Stakes, with Hronis Racing's Park Avenue  turning back a stretch challenge from Avenue de France  for a length victory. The John Sadler trainee raced a mile on firm turf in 1:35.13 under Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza. The 4-year-old daughter of Quality Road   paid $3.60 as the favorite.

"I felt her kind of waiting on the other horses on the lead and as we turned into the stretch," said Espinoza. "Avenue de France put her head in front, and I went to really riding her to get her attention. She then dug down and really ran a good race to beat the other horse to the wire."

Longshot Quinn Ella  ran third.

Reported on-track handle from a crowd of 8,035 (up 37% from last year) for the 12-race card on Memorial Day was $1,016,351, according to Equibase. The reported total handle from all sources was $4,791,312.