Silver Medallion Sharpens Skills in Tropical Turf

Black Rock Stable’s 3-year-old Silver Medallion took command in the upper stretch of $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (G3) Friday, closing day at Calder Casino & Race Course, and held a safe margin of 1 ¾ lengths at the finish under jockey Javier Castellano in his third start since being placed with trainer Todd Pletcher.

Brushwood Stable’s 4-year-old Mr. Ryder finished second as the 1.90-to-1 favorite in the field of nine that went to the post for the 1 1/8 miles grass course test with Robert Harvey’s 4-year-old gelding Hollinger third as the winner was timed in 1:48.84 over the ‘firm’ course and paid $13.20 for $2 to win.

Silver Medallion finished fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and fourth in the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland in April when trained by Steve Asmussen before going to the sidelines. He returned to competition in the fall with Pletcher, finishing second in an allowance on turf at Woodbine in early October and a third-place finish in the Commonwealth Turf (G3) at Churchill Downs last out on Nov. 3.

Winning owner’s quotes:

David Callan (owner of Black Rock Stables) – “He’s versatile, but obviously at home on the grass. We gave him a chance to see if he could be a (Kentucky) Derby horse after we bought him. He did all right, but we knew if it didn’t work out, we’d still have a nice grass horse.”

(Silver Medallion was purchased privately for Black Rock by agent Nick Sallusto after the El Camino Real Derby victory at Golden Gate Fields in February.)

Winning jockey’s quotes:

Javier Castellano – “This is a very nice grass horse.  I rode him in the Lexington (at Keeneland in April) and he is more mature now.  We were very lucky today with how the race unfolded, with only one speed horse.  We tracked Trujillo (jockey aboard the pacesetter, Chosen Empire) all the way.  He (Silver Medallion) settled nicely and I think that was the key today.  He was very relaxed in the beginning and ready to run in the stretch…he did it the right way.”