Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey’s BADGE OF SILVER (Silver Deputy) made all the running
on the front end of Saturday’s $500,000
New Orleans H. (G2), but the game
five-year-old had to repulse a serious challenge leaving the far turn and
withstand the late rally of runner-up Limehouse (Grand Slam) to record the
one-length victory. With his second straight stakes win in 2005, Badge of Silver
gave trainer Bobby Frankel a sweep of two major events on the Fair Grounds’
program following High Limit’s (Maria’s Mon) score in the Louisiana Derby (G2).
Sent off the 4-5 favorite, Badge of Silver sped his way to a clear early
advantage under Jerry Bailey through a quarter in :22 3/5, but Wanderin Boy
(Seeking the Gold) moved forward on the outside to press the leader through the
next splits of :45 2/5 and 1:10. The pacesetter faced a three-deep challenge
from Wanderin Boy, Pollard’s Vision (Carson City) and Second of June (Louis
Quatorze) as they left the far turn, but Badge of Silver re-rallied, leaving
Second of June reeling in second in midstretch. Limehouse came charging from out
of the pack and suddenly loomed a serious threat at this point, but the eventual
winner continued to find more to the wire, completing 1 1/8 miles over the fast
track in 1:48 3/5.
Badge of Silver paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.40, and Limehouse, who was off at
nearly 7-1, gave back $4.60 and $3.80 while capping the $17.80 exacta. Second in
June, who finished another five lengths back at 11-1, was good for $5.60 and
rounded out the $171.60 trifecta. The 4-3-6-7 superfecta, with Pollard’s Vision
in fourth, was worth $479.20. Colonial Colony (Pleasant Colony), Alumni Hall (A.P.
Indy), Wanderin Boy, Musique Toujours (Musique d’Enfer) and Freefourtinternet
(Tabasco Cat) came next under the wire.
Now 10-6-2-0 in his career, the five-year-old winner improved his career
earnings to $629,725. Winner of the 2003 Risen Star (G3) at Fair Grounds, Badge
of Silver was injured following an unplaced finish in that year’s Louisiana
Derby. He made a couple of starts last winter, but his form didn’t regain its
previous luster until finishing second in the Cigar Mile H. (G1) last fall. The
dark bay captured the Hal’s Hope H. (G3) next out, his 2005 bow, and then
traveled to New Orleans to make a big splash in the Crescent City’s namesake.
Bred in Kentucky by Liberation Farm, Oratis Thoroughbreds & Trackside Farm,
Badge of Silver is out of the winning Silveroo (Silver Hawk) and was purchased
for $85,000 as a Keeneland September yearling in 2001.