Strike Silver Hits in Indian Summer Stakes
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Strike Silver sweeps to the front to win the Indian Summer at Keeneland
The Oct. 7 $200,000 Indian Summer Stakes appeared to be all wrapped up for the Wesley Ward-trained Chelsea Cloisters, but Strike Silver flew up the outside and put a neck in front at the wire.
Run over firm turf at Keeneland, the 5 1/2-furlong sprint drew an oversubscribed field of 12. Strike Silver earned a berth in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs as part of the "Win and You're In" challenge series.
Making his first start on turf, Strike Silver was bumped hard at the start, then traveled 12th and last through most of the running, and 11th heading into the stretch. Julien Leparoux timed his ride aboard the son of Violence perfectly, circling the field in the lane and getting up just in time to complete the distance in 1:05 flat.
"We had a trip that we didn't expect. I thought I was going to be close to the pace, but we got bumped a little bit leaving the gate, so I was last and just bided my time," Leparoux said. "I made one run and it was a good one. At about the eighth pole, I thought I was going to get there (for the win). I had figured I would save ground and kick on at the end, and that is what he did."
Mister Banjoman led the way through a quarter-mile in :21.68 and a half-mile in :45.25. Chelsea Cloisters, one of four fillies in the field, stalked the pace in third before making a move in the stretch.
The winner paid $13, $6.60, and $5.20, and Chelsea Cloisters returned $5.40 and $4.40. Reward the Miracle got up for third, 1 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up, to return $13.60 to show.
Trained by Mark Casse for owner John Oxley, Strike Silver won his debut June 14 at Churchill Downs by a neck over Indian Summer contender Nitrous. In his second and most recent effort he finished a neck behind Sombeyay in the July 21 Sanford Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course.
"First of all, congratulations to (the Oxleys), who are at Longchamp right now," said Casse assistant trainer David Carroll. "Strike Silver is a beautiful horse, ran a great race. Mark did a wonderful job of getting him ready. (He) wanted to try him on the turf. Julien Leparoux gave him a great ride, and we're just absolutely thrilled with him.
"It's a 'Win & You're In,' so hopefully he comes out of the race in great shape, and I'm sure (racing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf) will be the game plan."
Bred in Kentucky by Lantern Hill Farm, Strike Silver is out of the Pulpit mare Frank's Hope and was a $275,000 purchase by Oxley during the Ocala Breeders' Sales October Yearling Sale.