Undefeated Twin Creeks homebred Pure Silver turns G2 Adirondack into a rout

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NYRA/Jamie Coulter

By Sarah Mace

Despite a less than ideal break, Twin Creeks Racing Stables’ undefeated, never-headed homebred Pure Silver made a quick recovery, struck the front and never looked back in the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Saratoga. In the end, Pure Silver turned the 6 1/2-furlong affair, which had attracted a talented field of eight, into a rout, posting a 9 1/2-length victory.

The win was the first graded victory for Pure Silver’s sire Mission Impazible, last year’s top first crop sire in New York and currently the state’s leading second crop and juvenile sire. The stallion stands at Becky Thomas and Dennis Narlinger’s Sequel Stallions New York [2]where Pure Silver was also foaled.

Bet down to 3-2 favoritism for the powerhouse team of Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez, Pure Silver had an awkward start from post one, tossing her head before the break after Stainless, directly to her outside, became fractious. Stainless came off the worst of it, actually going to her nose after the break, but Pure Silver recovered quickly and ranged up on the inside past three horses to strike the lead.

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NYRA/Chelsea Durand

Along the backstretch, Pure Silver showed the the way to 31-1 longshot Di Maria by three-quarters of a length through a speedy opening quarter mile in 22.44. That rival was no match, but with a half mile left to go Limited View loomed with intent to Pure Silver’s outside, and the pair hooked up through the turn.

Cutting the corner neatly, Pure Silver shook clear after the quarter pole and opened up daylight, then five lengths and ultimately a winning margin of 9 1/2 lengths. Southampton Way closed from forth into second while 23-1 Wall of Compassion rallied from sixth to get the show. Completing the order of finish were the unlucky Stainless, Sly Roxy, Limited View, Proportionality and Di Maria.

After a half mile in 45.48 and three-quarters in 1:17.22, the final time for 6 1/2 furlongs over the fast main track was 1:17.22. [VIDEO REPLAY[4]]

“We expected to be on the lead,” said winning pilot John Velazquez who has been aboard for all three of the filly’s starts. “We did[n’t] break very well. I used [her] a little bit to make sure I was going to be close the pace. Once I got to the spot I wanted to be in, I just waited there. She did a good job settling around the turn and finished up really well.”

Added trainer Todd Pletcher, “She won pretty convincingly. She’s pretty fast. She didn’t actually get away quite as easily as she normally does, but she made up for it quickly and got to the lead the right way. She kind of ran them off their feet from there.”

The conditioner also offered the following thought on race strategy. “It’s been a hard track sometimes to make up a lot of ground on. We knew that this filly was naturally fast and we were going to let her do her thing.”

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NYRA/Adam Coglianese

Pure Silver broke her maiden at Belmont Park on June 22 going 5 1/2 furlongs, following up a month later with a victory by the same margin in the 6-furlong Lynbrook Stakes on July 16. She passed class test of facing open and graded rivals for the first time in the Grade 2 Adirondack with flying colors, and tacked on an extra furlong with ease.

Pure Silver is the lone starter to date from her dam Jehan, a Kentucky-bred stakes winner and $302,683-earner by Forest Wildcat, who was purchased by Twin Creeks at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale for $150,000. Jehan has produced a yearling full-brother to Pure Silver and foaled a Graydar filly on April 6 this year. The mare was bred back to Graydar this year.

Pure Silver, who went through the OBS March sale this year, where McMahon and Hill Bloodstock signed the ticket for $120,000, has earned $217,200 for her three victories. As to her next start, Pletcher said, “I think we’ll certainly take a look at [the Grade 1, $350,000 Spinaway on September 2]. She’s a filly who has carried her condition really well. Now having run three times, she looks fantastic.”

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Pure-Silver-The-Adirondack-credit-jamie-coulter.jpg
  2. Sequel Stallions New York : http://www.sequelnewyork.com/
  3. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Pure-Silver-The-Adirondack-credit-chelsea-durand.jpg
  4. VIDEO REPLAY: http://www.nytbreeders.org/includes/video-player.cfm?date=20170812&track=STD&race=4
  5. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Pure-Silver-The-Adirondack.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/08/12/pure-silver-adirondack/