The value of precious metals, like a horse's racing fortunes, can change at a moment's notice.
In the second of four Kentucky Derby races at Oaklawn Park Monday, Gold went down and Silver went up.
Silver Prospector scored his third career victory and second in a graded stake in the Grade 3 $750,000 Southwest Stakes. As he did in winning the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in late November, the Declaration of War colt earned 10 points for a possible start in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Gold Street, frontrunning winner of Oaklawn's $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 24, finished last of nine going a fast-rated mile and sixteenth. Winning his last three races, all over wet tracks, Gold Street might have fared better if the threatening clouds overhead had produced moisture. When they did not, Gold Street was through early, finishing 23 1/2 lengths behind the winner.
Silver Prospector and Gold Street have different owners but the same trainer, Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, whose stakes-winning Shoplifted placed fourth in the Southwest.
Owner Ed Orr, disappointed when Silver Prospector ran a dull fourth in the Smarty Jones, took a reasoned approach to the Southwest victory.
"We had a lot of information that he was doing good," the Colorado native said. "We were disappointed .... in the Smarty Jones and thought that he could have done better there. We've learned a long time ago in this business to not get your hopes too high because they can be shot down pretty fast."
Wells Bayou placed second and Answer In, the 8-5 favorite, third for trainer Brad Cox. Wells Bayou, an Oaklawn mile winner Jan. 26, took the field through six furlongs in 1:11.72 and finished 5 1/2 lengths clear of Answer In, who was making his seasonal debut.
"I went a touch quicker than what I wanted to," said Wells Bayou jockey Florent Geroux. "My horse ran hard even when the other one came by me ... he was trying really hard. It was a great race. It was his first time against stakes company and the winner was a Grade 2 winner."
"He ran extremely well," Cox said. "He has good speed and I thought we might as well let him use it from the one hole. I was very pleased with them both. We'll regoup with them and see what's next."
The Cox-trained Mr. Monomoy leads the Derby standings with 52 points after winning the first division of Saturday's Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds.
Carrying 119 pounds and clocked in 1:43.01, Silver Prospector paid $11.40, $8 and $3.40. Taishan, Villainous, American Butterfly, Chase Tracker and Gold Street completed the field.
Oaklawn's last two Derby preps carry $1 million purses, the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes March 14 and the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby April 11.
Razorback Handicap: The same trainers finished first and second in a Grade 3 $500,000 race two races later, but this time with Cox on top.
Warrior's Charge, for whom the sky seemed the limit after winning twice at Oaklawn and placing fourth in the Preakness Stakes last year, is 2 for 2 on the comeback trail after a determined effort in the 61st Razorback Handicap.
The Munnings colt led from gate to wire, holding off Bankit by a head after being collared in midstretch. Florent Geroux gave his horse a breather going into the turn and outgamed Asmussen-trained Bankit, second by a head to Pioneer Spirit in a division of the $100,000 Fifth Season Jan. 24.
In his 4-year-old debut, Warrior's Charge scored his first stakes victory over the track that he broke his maiden and beat allowance/optional claimers at 3. He went a fast-rated mile and sixteenth in 1:43.00 and, as a tepid 3-1 favorite, paid $8, $4.40 and $3.60. Snapper Sinclair, another Asmussen trainee, second to Guest Suite in their half of the Fifth Season, was 4 1/4 lengths back in third and Pioneer Spirit fourth.
Warrior's Charge missed seven months after a case of colic following the Preakness, winning his return race by two lengths Dec. 18 at Fair Grounds going a mile and sixteenth. That effort was enhanced when runner-up Gun It finished second in Saturday's Grade 3 $200,000 Mineshaft in New Orleans.
Owned by Ten Strike Racing (Marshall Gramm and Clay Sanders) and Madaket Stables LLC (Sol Kumin and Jason Monteleone), Warrior's Charge pushed his career bankroll to $565,310 with $300,000 from the Razorback.
"There isn't a more deserving horse or group of owners!" Liz Crow, Gramm's racing manager, posted on Twitter. "Warrior's Charge fought for his life last June when he coliced and he fought hard for this win today."
Sports on 02/18/2020