Black
Rock Stable’s 3-year-old Silver Medallion took command in the upper stretch of
$100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (G3) Friday, closing day at Calder Casino &
Race Course, and held a safe margin of 1 ¾ lengths at the finish under jockey
Javier Castellano in his third start since being placed with trainer Todd
Pletcher.
Brushwood
Stable’s 4-year-old Mr. Ryder finished second as the 1.90-to-1 favorite in the
field of nine that went to the post for the 1 1/8 miles grass course test with
Robert Harvey’s 4-year-old gelding Hollinger third as the winner was timed in
1:48.84 over the ‘firm’ course and paid $13.20 for $2 to win.
Silver
Medallion finished fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and fourth in the
Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland in April when trained by Steve Asmussen
before going to the sidelines. He returned to competition in the fall with
Pletcher, finishing second in an allowance on turf at Woodbine in early October
and a third-place finish in the Commonwealth Turf (G3) at Churchill Downs last
out on Nov. 3.
Winning
owner’s quotes:
David
Callan (owner of Black Rock Stables) –
“He’s versatile, but obviously at home on the grass. We gave him a chance to
see if he could be a (Kentucky) Derby horse after we bought him. He did all
right, but we knew if it didn’t work out, we’d still have a nice grass horse.”
(Silver
Medallion was purchased privately for Black Rock by agent Nick Sallusto after
the El Camino Real Derby victory at Golden Gate Fields in February.)
Winning
jockey’s quotes:
Javier
Castellano – “This is a very nice grass
horse. I rode him in the Lexington (at Keeneland in April) and he is more
mature now. We were very lucky today with how the race unfolded, with only
one speed horse. We tracked Trujillo (jockey aboard the pacesetter,
Chosen Empire) all the way. He (Silver Medallion) settled nicely and I
think that was the key today. He was very relaxed in the beginning and
ready to run in the stretch…he did it the right way.”