Silentio claims his first stakes victory in the Sir Beaufort
Trained by Richard Mandella’s son, Gary Mandella, Silentio turned in a gutsy effort in his first graded stakes race to win the Grade 2, $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes on the opening day of Santa Anita Park’s winter meet on 26 December, 2012.
The lightly raced son of Japanese-bred stallion Silent Name over Santa Anita Park’s turf course posted his third victory in four starts, and won the Sir Beaufort Stakes under jockey Rafael Bejarano, who later rode Book Review to an emphatic victory in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes.
Out of A. P. Indy mare Listen A. P., Silentio in a field of eight broke from the outside post, and the second choice to win the race was soon into his stride after assuming the stalking position, and settled in fourth.
The robust dark bay or brown 3-year-old colt remained on the outside, but when Bejarano asked a little extra, he responded and stole the lead from Big Bane Theory nearing mid stretch. Turned in a game effort to defeat Battle Force by half-length, while Press Baron finish third a length farther back and Big Bane Theory finished fourth.
"He really liked the turf today," Bejarano said. "In his last race he broke from post one and he was kind of waiting a little bit. He still ran a good race, but the way he ran today he was clear from the outside and it was much better for him. He was more relaxed in the race so that's why he gave me a good turn of foot in the stretch."
Woodford Racing's Battle Force, was slightly favoured over Big Bane Theory and Silentio, as he was sent as the 3 to 1 favourite, and under jockey Mike Smith he turned in a willing run after a ground saving run into the stretch, and finished a good second from fifth, making the bid on the furlong mark for trainer John Shirreffs.
"He ran too good to lose," Smith said of the favorite. "I really have to applaud the winner because he beat me today, but they both ran winning races. I think it will be to our advantage as soon as we get to go a little further."
Silentio, is a Kentucky homebred of Wertheimer and Frere, who went on to clock the 1 mile distance in 1 minute and 34.27 seconds.
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