Sterling Silver (Coady Photography)
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y.— Mark T. Anderson’s multiple graded-stakes placed New York-bred Sterling Silver made a triumphant return to the Empire State, launching a devastating stretch rally to capture the Aqueduct Racetrack Saturday finale, a seven-furlong open-company allowance test over the main track.
Sterling Silver, a 4-year-old Cupid filly, broke from the rail under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano and saved ground in behind a wall of horses down the backstretch. She was fourth, nearly five lengths from the front at the stretch call, but surged through the final furlong to collar 33-1 longshot Chasing Cara and win by three-quarters of a length over fellow late-closer To a T. The victory garnered an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.
“I was really happy with that effort. She actually got caught down on the inside and Javier had a pretty strong hold of her going down the backstretch,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “It probably gave her more to do at the end, but it showed what a strong kick she has. She finished up the last eighth of a mile with a really nice surge.”
Saturday’s conquest was Sterling Silver’s first start in New York since a distant third in the Grade 3 Gallant Bloom in September at Belmont at the Big A. Since then, she finished ninth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on November 5 at Keeneland before making her 2023 debut on March 11 at Tampa Bay Downs in a seven-furlong handicap, finishing a distant fourth after sitting close to a fast pace.
Prior to the Gallant Bloom, Sterling Silver earned graded black type when third in the Grade 3 Victory Ride in July at Belmont and a late-closing second in the Grade 2 Prioress in September at Saratoga Race Course. At state-bred stakes level, she won the Franklin Square last January at the Big A and was a 4 1/4-length winner of the seven-furlong Bouwerie in May at Belmont.
Albertrani said Saturday’s winning effort was reminiscent of the Prioress.
“She made a similar late move that day where she was far off the pace and made one big run at the end,” Albertrani said. “At Tampa, she probably needed that race. She was chasing a really fast pace and was too close to the front runner and got a little tired in that race. She got something out of it to go forward to the race yesterday.”
Albertrani expressed interest in pointing Sterling Silver to the six-furlong $125,000 Dancin Renee for state-bred fillies and mares on June 25 at Belmont Park, but suggested she could start once before then.
“We’ll see what kind of schedule we can get her on before that,” Albertrani said.
Sterling Silver has raced twice beyond seven furlongs, including fifth-place finishes last year in both the one-turn mile Busher Invitational at Aqueduct and the Grade 1 Ashland going 1 1/16-miles at Keeneland.
“I don’t think she really wants to go beyond seven-eighths. Three-quarters to seven-eighths is her thing,” Albertrani said. “We tried stretching her out a couple times. The Ashland was maybe a tall order. Tyler Gaffalione rode her in the Ashland and said that she probably doesn’t want to go that far.”
Albertrani did not rule out an eventual return to graded level for Sterling Silver, who boasts an overall record of 12-4-1-2 and earnings of $372,188.
“Anything is possible. As long as she keeps her form intact, I’m sure there will be lots of opportunities,” Albertrani said. “She’s progressed well from 3-to-4. We gave her a little time off in Florida to give her the chance to put some muscle back on and give her a breather. Her first race since the Breeders’ Cup at Tampa was just a good race to get her started for this season. It all worked out well.”
Bred by Mallory Mort and Karen Mort, Sterling Silver is out of the Distorted Humor mare Sheet Humor, whose dam was graded stakes winner Sheets. Sterling Silver was a frugal $13,000 purchase from the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase.
