Friday’s
feature at Monmouth Park would have come up one tough event with just the likes
of the classy Who’s the Cowboy, the speedy Silent Appeal and the streaking
Framed. But the entries didn’t stop
there. Drawing the outside post six in
the $46,000 allowance/optional claiming event is the highly-regarded
Uptowncharlybrown, who will be making just his second start since crossing the
wire fifth in last year’s Belmont Stakes.
“It’s
a real tough race,” said Gregg Sacco, who will saddle Silent Appeal in the
one-mile dirt test. “My horse is doing
real well. Other than throwing a shoe at
the break on Jersey-bred Day, he’s been unbelievable.”
After
breaking his maiden on July 16 this year, Silent Appeal was third in an
allowance event, both those races at six furlongs. On Aug. 20, the colt by Hook and Ladder was
sent two turns and he responded with a resounding 10-length victory. Then came the New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival
on Sept. 17.
“Quite
frankly, we expected him to win that day,” Sacco said. “He blew his right front shoe, but still
managed to run okay (sixth, beaten less than four lengths).”
Silent
Appeal returned three weeks later and once again dominated his rivals, posting
a 5 ¾-length win on Oct. 9.
“He’s
fast,” Sacco said. “We’ll just send him
to the front and see how he does against this group. If he runs well here, we’ll point for the Zia
Park Derby on Dec. 3 ($150,000). It’s
one last shot to run against straight 3-year-olds.”