Silverbulletday Hits Her Stride With Romp in Alabama Stakes

So much for odds-on favorites getting dusted in the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga in New York.

Doing what Lakeway, Golden Bri, My Flag, Ajina and Manistique failed to do in the previous five years, Silverbulletday not only won the Grade I at 2-5, but she may have run the best race of her brilliant career.

Toying with her six rivals in her first try at 1 1/4 miles, the Silver Deputy filly sat third off a pedestrian pace for the first six furlongs, moved within a head of pacesetter Strolling Belle after a mile, then drew away under Jerry Bailey to win by nine lengths in 2:02 3/5.

Owned by Mike Pegram and trained by Bob Baffert, Silverbulletday, who ran her last quarter-mile in 24 seconds Saturday, has won 13 of 15 and the $240,000 she picked up for her seventh stakes win of the year increased her earnings to $2,601,750.

“I told Jerry, ‘If you take this filly back and let her lope around, you’ll have so much horse she’ll outsprint them,’ ” Baffert said. “She’s nice, relaxed and easygoing. When I saw the fractions [24 3/5, 49 2/5 and 1:13 4/5 for six furlongs], I said this was beautiful because it’s easier on her. When she came back, she wasn’t tired at all.

“She proved that I could win a Grade I in New York. I think it’s one of those things where we are enjoying her. With Real Quiet being out, you have to enjoy the moment.”

Strolling Belle, a 19-1 shot, was a clear second, three lengths ahead of 7-1 shot Gandria. On A Soapbox, who had won two in a row, including the Coaching Club American Oaks last month at Belmont Park, finished fourth as the 7-2 second choice, 18 1/2 lengths behind Silverbulletday.

“Awesome--that’s the word that says it best,” Bailey said. “She surprised even me today; she’s that good. When I rode her in the Belmont Stakes, the race just wasn’t her style. She does not want to be in front. But I would be comfortable riding her against colts again.”

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Excellent Meeting, who will be making her first start on the grass, is the 5-2 morning line choice against a full field of 3-year-old fillies in the $250,000 Del Mar Oaks today.

In trying to give Baffert his second Grade I win of the weekend after Silverbulletday’s romp in the Alabama, the daughter of General Meeting, who was the beaten favorite in the Hollywood Oaks last month, will have a new rider.

Chris McCarron replaces Kent Desormeaux, but the rider had nothing to do with her loss to Smooth Player, who is in the Oaks field this afternoon, in Inglewood. Rather, Excellent Meeting still may be feeling the effects of running in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

She will break from the inside and will have nine opponents. Twelve were entered in the Oaks, but only 10 will be allowed to start.

Sweet Ludy, who won the San Clemente Handicap, the prep for the Oaks, on July 31, is the 7-2 second choice and she will break directly outside of Excellent Meeting.

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A trip to Gulfstream Park and a start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint is a possibility for Enjoy The Moment after the 4-year-old filly won another graded stakes Saturday at Del Mar.

Nearly two months after her win in the A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood Park, the California-bred daughter of Slew’s Royalty easily captured the $150,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for owners Kip and Suzanne Knelman and trainer Bill Spawr.

With David Flores aboard, the 2-1 second choice led every step of the way, eventually beating Snowberg by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:15 4/5 for the 6 1/2 furlongs.

Horse Racing Notes

Jason’s Rib, a 3-year-old colt who was running for a $20,000 claiming price in Saturday’s fifth race, was euthanized after breaking his right foreleg during the stretch run of the 6 1/2-furlong sprint. Al N’ Mel, another horse in the race, also fell, but was uninjured. Jockeys J.C. Gonzalez, who rode Jason’s Rib, and Fernando Valenzuela, who was on Al N’ Mel, escaped injury. . . . Remaining unbeaten in two starts, Dont Tell The Kids upset favored Outrigger to capture the $200,000 Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park.