SILVER CHARM PULLS OUT COME-FROM-BEHIND WIN.Byline: Kevin Modesti Daily News Staff Writer Silver Charm Silver Charm (born February 22 1994) is an American Champion Thoroughbred race horse. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Gary Stevens, Silver Charm won the 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before falling short of the Triple Crown by placing second in the Belmont makes horse racing horse racing, trials of speed involving two or more horses. It includes races among harnessed horses with one of two particular gaits, among saddled Thoroughbreds (or, less frequently, quarterhorses) on a flat track, or among saddled horses over a turf course with a little like horse shoes, in which ``close'' counts. Trainer Bob Baffert Bob Baffert (born January 13, 1953 in Nogales, Arizona) is an American horse owner and trainer. He graduated from the University of Arizona's Racetrack Management Program with a Bachelor of Science degree. and jockey Gary Stevens
He made that reputation with photo-finish victories in the 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. And Saturday at Santa Anita he lived up to it when he wore down front-running Mud Route in the stretch to win the $211,016 San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes The San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park each year. It's a Grade II event open to horses, age four and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. . It was Silver Charm's first victory since the May 17 Preakness. He ran second in the June 7 Belmont and, after a long rest, second in the Dec. 26 Malibu. ``Anytime he's head and head with a horse, you can have quite a bit of confidence he's not going to get beat,'' Stevens said after the victory, which sets up Silver Charm for the Feb. 7 Strub Stakes. Baffert was even more confident than that. ``I just knew when he got to (midstretch), there's no way he was going to lose,'' the trainer said. ``And nobody was going to come up on the outside.'' He was referring to the Belmont, in which Touch Gold rallied to deny Silver Charm the Triple Crown. ``I knew if we could just get within half a length turning for home, this horse would take care of the rest. That's where my training goes out the window and this horse's heart takes over,'' Baffert said. Silver Charm (who paid $2.40) has won six races - and finished second in the other five - for owners Bob and Beverly Lewis. Turning into the stretch in Saturday's 1 1/16-mile race, he and Stevens drew even on the outside of Mud Route and Chris McCarron, while Lord Grillo and long shot Kukulcan were far back in the four-horse race. The early pace had been slow. The final 5 1/16ths - a quick :29 3/5 - made up for that. Silver Charm inched away from Mud Route to win by a length in 1:41 4/5. Lord Grillo, who scored the Malibu upset after Silver Charm was blocked on the turn, finished three lengths back in third. ``The pace was a joke,'' Lord Grillo trainer Mike Puype said. ``We're going to be very tough in the Strub. I wouldn't trade horses.'' Mud Route trainer Ron McAnally was still confident, but he was more admiring of Silver Charm. ``I knew we were in tough,'' McAnally said. ``The other horse is more mature. He has more races in him. But we'll get him.'' Earlier: McAnally and McCarron got a consolation prize when Golden Arches outfought Ecoute from the outside to win the $161,450 San Gorgonio Handicap The San Gorgiono Handicap is a race for thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park each year. A Grade II event, the San Gorgiono Handicap is open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the turf. The race carries a purse of $150,000. , the filly's second straight stakes victory. Ecoute, who set a slow pace in the 1-1/8-mile turf race, finished well clear of longshot Escabiosa, who was disqualified dis·qual·i·fy tr.v. dis·qual·i·fied, dis·qual·i·fy·ing, dis·qual·i·fies 1. a. To render unqualified or unfit. b. To declare unqualified or ineligible. 2. to fourth for cutting in front of Real Connection in the early going. Luna Wells was a disappointing fifth. Elsewhere: In an early 3-year-old test at Gulfstream Park near Miami, D. Wayne Lukas-trained Cape Town humbled Sweetsouthernsaint, handing the hometown colt his first defeat in four starts. Jerry Bailey rode the winner. Cape Town ($6.60), a son of Seeking the Gold Seeking The Gold (foaled 1985 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by the leading stud, Mr. Prospector, who in turn was a son of Raise a Native, out of the mare, Con Game. coming off a victory at Churchill Downs, was close to the soft pace throughout the 1 1/16 miles and won by half a length over Comic Strip, while Sweetsouthernsaint rallied for third at even money. Notes: Bob Baffert won three races at Santa Anita, although assistant trainer Eoin Harty actually saddled them. ``He saddled the first (winner), and I said, `You saddle the rest,' '' Baffert said. ``It's the first time he's saddled Silver Charm. He's all pumped up.'' . . . Trafalger, Ready Eddie and Steel Ruhlr were scratched from the San Fernando. . . . With Chris McCarron up north to ride Mantles Star in the Golden Gate Derby The Golden Gate Derby is a race for thoroughbred horses run each year at Golden Gate Fields at a distance of one and one sixteenth of a mile and open to three-year-olds. A Grade III event, also known as the California Derby, it offers a purse of $100,000. today, Eddie Delahoussaye will be aboard I Ain't Bluffing, favorite in the El Encino Stakes The El Encino Stakes is a race for thoroughbred race horses held in the United States. The El Encino Stakes, run at Santa Anita Park each year, is open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. for 4-year-old fillies at Santa Anita. . . . A field of eight led by Martiniquais was entered in the San Marcos Handicap The San Marcos Handicap is a race for thoroughbred horses run on grass at Santa Anita Park in January of each year. The race is open to horses, age three and up willing to race one and one-quarter miles on the turf. A Grade II event, it offers a purse of $150,000. on the holiday Monday. |
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