Promise Me Silver Looks to End Meet in Instant Racing

Unbeaten Promise Me Silver is scheduled to return to Oaklawn for the $100,000 Instant Racing Stakes for 3-year-old fillies April 11, trainer Bret Calhoun said Friday morning. Calhoun said he hopes to use the six-furlong Instant Racing as a prep for the $200,000 Eight Belles Stakes (G3) May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Promise Me Silver won the $100,000 Dixie Belle Stakes Jan. 15 at Oaklawn and was entered in the track’s $150,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) March 7 before Calhoun decided to scratch the filly because of concern over track conditions following a winter storm. Calhoun chose the Instant Racing over the $250,000 Beaumont Stakes (G2) April 12 at Keeneland.

“I’m basically coming off a two-month layoff,” Calhoun said. “I might have gone to the Keeneland race if I hadn’t had to scratch out of the other race. But, this is probably a better schedule, starting her here, and going on to the Eight Belles.”

Promise Me Silver hasn’t run since a romping victory in the $75,000 Two Altazano Stakes Feb. 14 at Sam Houston. Calhoun said Promise Me Silver is scheduled to work Saturday at Evangeline Training Center in Louisiana and should ship to Oaklawn around April 10.

Promise Me Silver is 6 for 6 in her career, including five stakes, and earned $259,355.

Also pointing for the Instant Racing is unbeaten Indian Brava.

Street Talk

Street Strategy emerged from Wednesday’s blistering workout in good physical condition, but trainer Randy Morse said Friday morning he’s still debating the next start for the promising 4-year-old colt.

Morse said Street Strategy is under consideration for several races, including the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 11. But, champion Shared Belief passing the Oaklawn Handicap in favor of the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic (G2) April 18 “makes the decision a lot easier,” Morse said.

A two-time allowance winner at the meeting, Street Strategy turned in a dazzling 5-furlong workout in :59.40 Wednesday morning under regular rider Calvin Borel. Street Strategy galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.60.

“He did it easy,” Morse said after the work.

Street Strategy, a son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, has won 3 of 5 career starts (all at Oaklawn).

Morse said his other top older horse, Grade I winner Moonshine Mullin, could begin breezing again during the final week of the meeting, but there’s no timetable for his return to racing. Moonshine Mullin was treated for a minor leg injury approximately six weeks ago – a broken splint bone that was surgically removed.

Morse said the problem was in the same area as a tiny ligament tear detected in one of Moonshine Mullin’s ankles last summer, but the injuries were unrelated. The gelding hasn’t started since winning the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) June 14 at Churchill Downs, his fifth consecutive victory.

Morse had targeted the $250,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) March 14 as Moonshine Mullin’s comeback race.

“He’s doing good since we took that splint bone out,” Morse said. “It’s a shame. I sure wish I had him ready. He loves this race track.”

On behalf of Randy Patterson, Morse claimed Moonshine Mullin for $40,000 in November 2013 at Remington Park. The gelding was a three-time winner at the 2014 Oaklawn meeting, then captured the $300,000 Alysheba Stakes (G2) and Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs. He will be based at Churchill after the Oaklawn meeting ends April 11.

The Right Turn?

Pearl Turn is under consideration for three races for her next start, but trainer Will VanMeter said he’s “definitely leaning toward” remaining home for the $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares April 10.

Pearl Turn ran third in the $100,000 Pippin Stakes Jan. 17 and fourth in the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) Feb. 15 before overcoming trouble to win a March 14 allowance/optional claiming event. The 1 ¼-length victory came about an hour before Gold Medal Dancer beat champion Untapable in the $300,000 Azeri Stakes (G2), the final major local prep for the Apple Blossom.

“She’s the type of filly when she puts it all out on the line and she runs against fast horses, she’s going to run with fast horses,” VanMeter said. “Not that that was a slow group of horses the other day. She ran 1:47 and change and the stake went in 1:45 and change. But even in those stakes before, they were going in 1:45 and she was only a length off of it.”

VanMeter said Pearl Turn is also under consideration for the $100,000 Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) April 17 at Keeneland and the $150,000 Sixty Sails Handicap (G3) April 18 at Hawthorne.

Pearl Turn represented VanMeter’s first career training victory at the 2014 Oaklawn meeting.

Rulings

Stewards suspended jockey Floyd Wethey Jr. three racing days (April 1-3) for an incident in Wednesday’s fifth race. Stewards cited Wethey for allowing his mount, Nicoles Bullet, to “drift down twice without being clear” of Sugarsboro shortly after the start of the 6-furlong race for lower-level Arkansas-bred filly and mare claimers. Because Sugarsboro won the race by 2 ½ lengths over Nicoles Bullet, there was no disqualification.

Finish Lines

Co-owner/trainer Doug Anderson said he plans to breeze multiple stakes winner Sugar Shock this weekend, adding the $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 10 remains the target. … Trainer Mac Robertson said he plans to work Picko’s Pride out of the gate next week in preparation for his 2015 debut. Robertson said he still wants to run Picko’s Pride in the $300,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 9. Picko’s Pride ran second in the 2013 Count Fleet. … For Greater Glory, a candidate for the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 11, worked 5 furlongs in 1:02 Friday morning for trainer Steve Hobby. … Laope, the 3-1 second choice in Thursday’s third race, was declared an official starter following a stewards’ inquiry into the start of the race. Laope dwelt, spotting the field approximately 11 lengths after a quarter-mile, and trailed throughout the 6-furlong race. Owner/trainer Stan Seagle claimed Laope out of the race for $5,000.