Ward eyes Adirondack for stakes-winning filly Silvertoni

Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack, the second of three juvenile filly races at the Spa, tends to be overshadowed by its splashier counterparts, the Grade 3 Schuylerville on Opening Day and the Grade 1 Spinaway on September 3 during closing weekend.

It is part of the reason why trainer Wesley Ward is eyeing the 6 ½-furlong race for his stakes-winning Silvertoni, a $230,000 purchase at the Keeneland September yearling sales in 2015.

"The middle races - the Adirondack and [Sunday's Grade 2 Saratoga Special] sometimes are the easiest of the three because the best ones are pointing to the Spinaway, which is too close," said Ward, who has Silvertoni nominated to both of this weekend's stakes. "It's a way to pick up a graded stakes win, with maybe a little bit easier competition."

Silvertoni, who carries the colors of Silverton Hill, LLC, launched her career in April at Keeneland, zipping to a front-running two-length victory in a 4 ½-furlong maiden race. She next took on the boys in the five-furlong Kentucky Juvenile on May 5 at Churchill Downs, and again scored by two, covering the distance in :58 3/5.

"I got her in November, and she's a lovely filly," said Ward. "You can ship her anywhere, she's absolutely no problem."

In June, the gray daughter of Tapit was one of seven horses brought to England by Ward, who in 2009 became the first American-based trainer to win at Royal Ascot. While Ward picked up his seventh win at the prestigious meet when Lady Aurelia took the Group 2 Queen Mary, he was not so fortunate with Silvertoni. The "big filly with a long stride" got bogged down in the soggy going and finished ninth in the Group 2 Coventry.

"She's done well since then," said Ward. "Shipping to England is like shipping to California; it doesn't take anything out of them. She breezed here a couple of days ago [four rulongs in 47.05 seconds on August 25] and she did really well."

Also pointing to the Adirondack, which will celebrate its 100th running Saturday, are Dial Me, Ever So Clever, Kathleen Elizabeth, Libby's Tail, Nonna Mela, and Southern Perfection.

Source: NYRA Communications