Jody Slew Edges Quiet Temper

The $150,000 Silverbulletday is second in a three-race series for 3-year-old fillies which culminates with the March 26 Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks, five weeks prior to the April 31 Kentucky Oaks.

Quiet Temper and jockey Robby Albarado set the pace from early on, unpressured through fractions of 23.91, 47.50 and 1:11.75. Into mid-stretch the Delta Princess winner opened up on the rest of the field as favored Devil May Care flattened out, but that was just when Jody Slew and rider Miguel Mena were starting to roll. After racing last through the first six furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile contest, Jody Slew rallied four wide into the stretch and kicked into gear. With one-sixteenth of a mile to go she still had three lengths to make up but continued to gain on a tiring Quiet Temper, who held on until the very last jump, when Jody Slew’s nose came down on the finish line first in a desperate head-bob.

“She didn’t really get into the race until she got that horse in her sights,” said winning trainer Bret Calhoun, who had just been to the winner’s circle the race before with Chamberlain Bridge in the Colonel Power Stakes. “She was just kind of wide out there down the lane—running, but not like she was bearing down—but she got that horse in her sights and she found another gear.”

The final time was 1:45.80. Jody Slew, surprise winner of last month’s Tiffany Lass Stakes, now has a chance to become the first filly to sweep Fair Grounds’ “Road to the Oaks” series. The Slew City Slew filly raised her earnings to $185,179 with her fourth victory from nine starts.

Quiet Temper’s jockey, Robby Albarado, offered no excuses and said they “just got outrun today.”

The top two were 10 lengths clear of third-place finisher Twin Creeks Racing Stables’ Age of Humor. The order of finish was completed by Bella Medaglia, favored Devil May Care and Elusive Jozi. Longshot The Rumor’s True was scratched.

Jody Slew paid $18, $7 and $4 as the 8-1 fourth choice. Quiet Temper paid $4 and $3.20, while Age of Humor returned $4.20.

Race 8-Grade III, $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes

3-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles, 29^th running

Jockey Miguel Mena (Jody Slew, winner): “I knew the pace was fast but at the quarter-pole I was still many lengths behind. I just kept driving and I really didn’t think I had won at the end.

“Last time she impressed me and my boss because we thought she was a grass horse. We started to move by the three-eighths pole and thank god we got the money.”

What percentage chance would you have given yourself that you won the race at the wire? “I gave myself, oh, twenty percent. I didn’t know if I got there; I was just waiting. I couldn’t believe it.”

Trainer Bret Calhoun (Jody Slew, winner): “I know there wasn’t going to be as much pace pressure today, but I did not expect the one (Quiet Temper) to be loose. I at least thought there would be some company up front and when she was loose and going so easy I thought it was over. I was really surprised my filly was that far back; as sharp as she’s been in the mornings she’s been just the opposite in the afternoons. I was afraid she might be more keen today but it ended up working out great. She didn’t really get into the race until she got that horse in her sights. She was just kind of wide out there down the lane—running, but not like she was bearing down—but she got that horse in her sights and she found another gear.”

Co-owner Dan Morgan (Jody Slew, winner): “We’re not used to winning exciting photos like that. We’re usually second-best. You have to take heart medicine to watch her races.”

Co-owner Bill Martin (Jody Slew, winner): “When she sees a horse in front of her, she goes. She likes to run them down. If she has to do it that way we’re happy to leave her alone.”

Jockey Robby Albarado (Quiet Temper, second): “Just got outrun today.”

Jockey Javier Castellano (Devil May Care, fifth as favorite): “I expected her to run better today. She might have been a little bit nervous coming off the layoff. I don’t think she really liked the track the way she handled it today. We were in a perfect spot, but turning for home, when I asked her, she didn’t respond. I worked her at Palm Meadows and I really liked the way she worked that day.”