Stall Targets Silverbulletday for Top Decile

Two half-length losses from arguably being a champion, Top Decile has zeroed in on the listed $125,000 Silverbulletday Stakes Jan. 17 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots as her sophomore debut for trainer Al Stall Jr.



While yet to be favored in three starts, Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's Top Decile has a win and two seconds in grade I company to begin her career. In her most recent try, she was just half a length behind likely divisional champion Take Charge Brandi in the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). Nov. 1. 



On the morning of Dec. 30, the chestnut daughter of Congrats   had her first serious work and third since returning from a brief freshening. She went a half mile at Fair Grounds in :48 1/5, good for fourth-best of 44 works at the distance.



"She went fine," Stall said. "We are just picking her up a little bit as we go along. As far as the nine-day gap between works, we waited until the bad weather was gone and we had the right track to work her. She has put on good weight since the Breeders' Cup and is doing well. If a horse could overdose on peppermints it would be her."



In her debut, she showed good speed and won impressively going 61/2 furlongs at Saratoga Race Course. That effort earned her a start in a wet renewal of the Alcibiades Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland, where she overcame a missed break to come charging to a half-length loss. Next out, she shipped to California for the Juvenile Fillies and endured a five-wide trip while coming up short.



Both of those events were at 1 1/16-miles. The Silverbulletday is at the slightly shorter distance of a mile and 70 yards.



A $110,000 purchase picked out by Stall as a yearling at Keeneland in September 2013, she has now earned $489,800. She has put herself squarely in the picture for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) May 1. 



"I'm not worried about anything except getting her to the 17th and then we'll look past that," Stall said.  "She'll have two more works before the (Silverbulletday)—one on (Jan. 5) going five-eighths, and another most likely the following Sunday for a blowout. Mike Smith will come in to ride her. He's the only one who asked."



Top Decile was previously ridden in all three starts and worked in the mornings by Rosie Napravnik, who retired in November.