Silverbulletday, the Bob Baffert trainee who was last year’s three-year-old filly Eclipse Champion, has been retired and will be bred next year, according to her owner Mike Pegram.
“All good things must come to an end, and this is the end,” Pegram said. “She’s the best horse a person could ever own, and you’ve got to do right by her. If Bobby doesn’t think she can be 100 percent by Breeders’ Cup time, you’ve got to pull the plug, because she’s got nothing else to prove.”
Silverbulletday retires with earnings of $3,093,207. She just fell short of the all-time earnings records for a distaffer, held by Serena’s Song with $3,283,388. Silverbulletday is presently at Saratoga, but she will be sent to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington.
2nd RACE – The running of the race was marred by a spill on the far turn. Stormingthepalace was running off the pace when he broke down and fell. Wynn With Quinn could not avoid the fallen horse and fell over her. Jockey Phil Teator, who was aboard Stormingthepalace, was sent to Saratoga Hospital, where he was treated for cuts and abrasions but released. Julio Pezua on Wynn With Quinn was not injured and came back to ride the next race. Stormingthepalace was euthanized on the track.
5th RACE – Time To Gamble trailed the field as his entrymate Hoh Steamer set the pace. On the far turn, Time to Gamble made a wide sweeping move, which in the past few days has not been successful on the turf course, to reach contention. He gained the lead in midstretch and went on for the victory. Notoriety rated off the pace while saving ground and then angled outside for the stretch drive. He split horses and caught some traffic, but was able to get up for the place spot.
7th RACE – Holiday Thunder stumbled at the start and trailed the field early. Entering the far turn, Holiday Thunder started to move up outside but was floated wide by Yasou Niko. He was full of run while wide entering the stretch but was gaining on the tiring pacesetter Windsor Castle with every stride. But the wire came up quickly to save the victory for Windsor Castle, who held on by a neck over Holiday Thunder.
9th RACE – Light the Lamp rated off the pace but with Jerry Bailey, most fans were confident he would find the hole and go on for the victory. But entering the stretch, Light the Lamp was boxed in behind horses. He tried to bully through a non-existent hole and checked, then tried the same manuever again and checked. He angled outside and finally found a narrow seam to run through, but he ran out of track and could only get up for third.
YESTERDAY’S CLAIMS
1st RACE – Sheikh Rattle ($35,000) by Joe Hennessy.
3rd RACE – Heroiss ($25,000) by Dominic Galluscio; Lorraine’s Memory ($25,000) by Gasper Moschera.
5th RACE – Issac Says So ($40,000) by Robert Barbara.
PICK SIX
Winning numbers 4-9-1-3-3-1
1 winner receives $45,206.00
36 consolation (5 of 6) winners
each receives $418.50
No carryover