Pure Silver looks to come up golden in G1 Spinaway

by Brian Bohl

Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Pure Silver will attempt to stay undefeated, facing a talented field of juvenile fillies in the 126th running of the Grade 1, $350,000 Spinaway on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. 

The winner will earn an automatic entry to the Grade 1, $2 million 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 4 at Del Mar. 

Pure Silver has won her first three starts, including an impressive 9 ½-length score in the Grade 2 Adirondack in her graded stakes debut August 12 at the Spa. After winning across three distances, starting at 5 ½ furlongs in her debut, the Todd Pletcher trainee will stretch out once more to the Spinaway length of seven furlongs on the main track.

"She's training really well and seems very happy with herself, so we're looking forward to going again with her," Pletcher said. "She's a filly who has good early speed and the way she finished the other [race], we feel like seven should be within her range. She should come back with another good performance."

Pure Silver has thrived as a front-runner, leading gate-to-wire in every start, starting with her first win on June 22 at Belmont Park and continuing in the Lynbrook on July 16. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who has been aboard for all of Pure Silver's victories, will have the return call from post 4.

"She didn't break as well in the Adirondack as she generally does, but she was able to recover quickly. Speed seems to be her weapon, so we're not going to take that away from her," Pletcher said. 

The Spinaway will mark a quick turnaround for the daughter of Mission Impazzible, coming less than three weeks after the Adirondack. Pletcher said the fact the Spinaway is the next available graded stakes for 2-year-old fillies on the main track helped make the decision to enter.

"It just seems like the right thing to do," Pletcher said. "It's a Grade 1 opportunity for her and she had such a great win over the track; the fact that she seemed to bounce out of it [means] we're going to take a shot and hope it's enough time to come back with a good effort. She's given us all those indications, but until you do it, you never know."

Separationofpowers will make her stakes debut after winning on July 30 at the Spa, clearing the field by 11 3/4 lengths. Purchased for $190,000 in the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, Separationofpowers will try and go 2-for-2 for trainer Chad Brown, who entered Monday tied with Pletcher for a meet-leading 33 wins. 

The Candy Ride filly has been training consistently at Saratoga, putting in a final five-furlong breeze in 1:01.17 on Sunday. Owned by Klaravich Stables, Separationofpowers garnered an 86 Beyer Speed Figurefor her win at six furlongs. 

Jose Ortiz, the meet's leading rider going into closing week, will be in the irons from the inside post.

Lady Ivanaka, owned by Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables, earned an 81 Beyer in winning her debut on August 9 at Saratoga. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez said her effort on the track - resulting in an eight-length win - prompted the connections to take another shot before the meet ended. 

"She's been training good; I know we're bringing her a little quicker than we wanted, but it's a good race to get into," Rodriguez said. "The competition will be better, but that's what makes it a good spot to run."

Lady Ivanka has breezed twice on the main track since her debut win at 5 ½ furlongs, including a four-furlong bullet breeze in 47.04 seconds on Monday; marking the best time out of 55.

"She worked the other day and looked good, so we're hoping for the best," Rodriguez said. "We hope she handles it. The distance is a concern for everybody. We have to see who shows up and steps up to this level. It looks like she likes the track. We're happy with the way she's been doing."

Irad Ortiz, Jr. will look to go 2-for-2 aboard the Tiz Wonderful filly. The duo will break from post 3.

"I'll let Irad decide what to do," Rodriguez said. "He knows the filly and he's one of the best riders. He's my main guy. We'll just take it from there."  

My Meadowview Farm's Maya Malibu will make her first start at Saratoga after winning her first start on August 5 at Delaware Park. Trained by Graham Motion, Maya Malibu, a daughter of Malibu Moon, rallied from fifth to win by six lengths. 

Maya Malibu will exit the outside post in tandem with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

Obvious Two broke her maiden on the third attempt, winning by 3 ¼ lengths on August 14 at Thistledown. Owned by Loooch Racing Stables and trained by Anthony Quartarolo, Obvious Two will make her first stakes start and first appearance in New York, exiting post 2 with jockey C.J. McMahon.