Ward Points Silvertoni to Adirondack
Description:
The Aug. 13 Adirondack (gr. II), second of three juvenile filly races at Saratoga Race Course, tends to be overshadowed by its splashier counterparts, the July 22 Schuylerville (gr. III) on opening day and the Sept. 3 Spinaway (gr. I) during closing weekend.
It is part of the reason why trainer Wesley Ward is eyeing the 6 1/2-furlong race for his stakes-winning Silvertoni, a $230,000 purchase at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale.
"The middle races—the Adirondack and (the Aug. 14, grade II Saratoga Special) sometimes are the easiest of the three because the best ones are pointing to the Spinaway, which is too close," said Ward, who has Silvertoni nominated to both of this weekend's stakes. "It's a way to pick up a graded stakes win, with maybe a little bit easier competition."
Silvertoni, who carries the colors of Silverton Hill, launched her career in April at Keeneland, zipping to a front-running two-length victory in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race. She next took on the boys in the five-furlong Kentucky Juvenile on May 5 at Churchill Downs, and again scored by two, covering the distance in :58 3/5.
"I got her in November, and she's a lovely filly," said Ward. "You can ship her anywhere, she's absolutely no problem."
In June, the gray daughter of Tapit was one of seven horses brought to England by Ward, who in 2009 became the first American-based trainer to win at Royal Ascot. While Ward picked up his seventh win at the prestigious meet when Lady Aurelia took the Queen Mary (Eng-II), he was not so fortunate with Silvertoni. The big filly with a long stride got bogged down in the soggy going and finished ninth in the Coventry (Eng-II).
"She's done well since then," said Ward. "Shipping to England is like shipping to California; it doesn't take anything out of them. She breezed here a couple of days ago (four rulongs in :47.05 Aug. 25) and she did really well."