Calhoun Looks to Strike Gold with 'Silver' Again in Bashford Manor
Jun 22, 2014
After taking the Debutante on Saturday with Robert G. Luttrell’s Promise Me Silver, trainer Bret Calhoun has a 2-year-old gelding shipping to Churchill Downs on Tuesday for next Saturday’s $100,000-added Bashford Manor (Grade III) in Silverhill.
Silverhill, like Promise Me Silver, is by freshman sire Silver City (whom Calhoun also trained), was bred in Texas, and was a debut maiden winner versus state-bred company at Lone Star Park.
“He’s doing great,” Calhoun said. “He’ll arrive at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning from Lone Star Park. It’s a similar situation as our filly. He was pretty impressive in his debut. I had another horse in there that we were pretty high on (Supermason). I thought he was a pretty good colt and Silverhill got away a little tardy but ran a huge race.
“It gave me a little more confidence in him because I felt like I knew what I had with the other horse but Silverhill was able to range up and then drew off. It was the right race and we decided after we took a look at all the other nominations that we’d take a shot here.”
Silverhill is owned by the Estate of Clarence Scharbauer Jr., who also owned Silver City and stands at Valor Farm in Pilot Point, Texas.
Silver City has 10 starters, four winners and now one stakes winner from 12 named foals in his first crop.
“I had a lot of optimism for Silver City because he was a very talented horse but never really got to show all his talent because of some injuries,” Calhoun said. “We loved him as a race horse and I thought with his pedigree he would go on to be a good stallion prospect.”
Calhoun also mentioned that Promise Me Silver came out of her impressive Debutante victory in good form.
“She came out of the race great,” Calhoun said. “We were very pleased with her effort. There’s a chance we may take her to Saratoga but we’re going to see how she looks in the next couple of weeks.”
Calhoun also said that he would be taking his 2013 Debutante winner Fiftyshadesofgold to Saratoga for the Aug. 2 Test (GI).
Also owned by the Estate of Clarence Scharbauer Jr., Fiftyshadesofgold took this year’s edition of the Eight Belles (GIII) at Churchill and finished fourth in her last start, the Acorn (GI) at Belmont.
She is expected to record a workout under the Twin Spires this week.
“I will work her mid-week sometime, maybe Wednesday or Thursday,” Calhoun said. “I gave her a little bit of a break and am pointing her toward the Test (GI) so I figured I’d give her a little extra time with that race not being until August 2.”
SPEEDINTHRUTHECITY EXITS ROXELANA IN GOOD FORM; CINCO CHARLIE WORKS FOR ASMUSSEN
Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s Speedinthruthecity, victorious in Saturday’s Roxelana at Churchill Downs, came out of the race in good form according to trainer Steve Asmussen’s assistant Darren Fleming.
“She came out fine,” Fleming said. “Steve will probably take her to Saratoga, but I don’t think he has a race picked out for her yet.”
Speedinthruthecity has won six of 14 starts and earned $335,957.
Also from the Asmussen barn, B and C Racing’s Bashford Manor hopeful Cinco Charlie worked under the Twin Spires, clocking a half-mile in :50.20.
“He worked really well,” Fleming said. “He was close on the lead in his first race and we expect a similar trip on Saturday. We’ll see what kind of post-position draw we get.”
Cinco Charlie took his debut by 2 ¾ lengths going 4 ½ furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 9 under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, who is expected to retain the mount for the Bashford Manor according to Fleming.
‘ROCKIN’ IN THE USA’ THEME AT DOWNS AFTER DARK THIS FRIDAY
Churchill Downs will host its final “Downs After Dark Presented by Stella Artois & Finlandia Vodka” of the Spring Meet on Friday night.
Themed as “Rockin’ in the USA,” guests are encouraged to dress in a mix of denim and Americana for a night deemed ‘A Tribute to Rock and Roll” with a performance in the Plaza by the popular Juice Box Heroes.
The final “Downs After Dark” also includes the popular text-to-win sweepstakes “Bet or No Bet,” sponsored by Thorntons. Four lucky on-track patrons will face a tough decision on Races 6-9: to place a $1,000 win bet on a horse in the upcoming race or take a $100 Thorntons’ gift card.
RESERVE YOUR SEATS FOR THE ‘TERRACE LOUNGE’ ON FRIDAY NIGHT
For Friday’s “Downs After Dark” Spring Meet finale, Churchill Downs will transform the new Grandstand Terrace into the “Terrace Lounge,” a 21-and-over lounge-style environment that features a live DJ, club/lounge style lighting and décor, premium food and cocktails and use of the grandstand terrace’s patio and stadium style seating.
Tickets to Downs After Dark in the lounge are $25 and can be reserved in advance with a limited total capacity. The Terrace Lounge will be available at all three Downs After Dark events this Spring, with the hopes of continuing it again in the future if successful.
For $99 per ticket, Churchill Downs is also offering Terrace Lounge VIP Cabana seating, which includes an open bar from 7-11 p.m., a premium buffet designed by Chef David Danielson and concierge wait service. These tickets reserve special plush seating for groups of any number within one of the four covered cabanas at the end of the Grandstand Terrace.
THIS WEEK AT CHURCHILL DOWNS
Thursday, June 26
- 9 races from 12:45-4:48 p.m. (Gates: 11:30 a.m.)
- Feature (Race 7 at 3:47 p.m.): $55,000 alw opt clm, f & m, 1 1/16 M
- Box Office hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday, June 27 – Downs After Dark Presented by Stella Artois and Finlandia Vodka: Rockin’ in the USA
- 10 races from 6 p.m.-10:57 (Gates: 4:00 p.m.)
- Downs After Dark Presented by Stella Artois and Finlandia Vodka
- Theme: Rockin’ in the USA. Guests are encouraged to dress in denim and Americana
- Feature (Race 8 at 9:50 p.m.): $56,000 alw opt clm, f&m, 1 1/16 M (T)
- Entertainment on the Plaza stage by Juice Box Heroes
- New “Terrace Lounge” ticket options available
- Box Office hours: 12 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 28 – Stakes Tripleheader
- 10 races from 12:45-5:18 p.m. (Gates: 11:30 a.m.)
- Feature: $200,000-added Firecracker (GII), 3 & up, 1 M (T)
- Co-feature: $100,000-added Bashford Manor (GIII), 2 yo, 6 F
- Co-feature: $65,000-added Kelly’s Landing, 3&up, 7 F
- Box Office hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 29 – Closing Day
- 10 races from 12:45-5:18 p.m. (Gates: 11:30 a.m.)
- Feature: $56,000 alw opt clm, f&m, 7 F
- Box Office hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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