Four Roses Thoroughbreds’ SILVER WAGON (Wagon Limit) was content to race in
the back during the early running of Saturday’s $300,000
Carter H.
(G1) at Aqueduct, but responded with ease when urged on by jockey Javier
Castellano to score his second straight stakes. In the process, the flashy gray
joined an exclusive club as he pushed his earnings past the $1 million mark, now
owning $1,159,193 to go along with his 24-7-3-6 career mark.
Latent Heat (Maria’s Mon) was quickest from the gate, leading through quick
splits of :21 3/5 and :44 1/5 with Keyed Entry (Honour and Glory) close in
attendance. At this point, Castellano shook the reins at Silver Wagon and the
six-year-old took off, engulfing his rivals on the outside and drawing off to be
1 1/4 lengths clear of his nearest rival at the line. As the near 5-2 third
choice, Silver Wagon stopped the clock in 1:21 2/5 on the fast dirt to pay
$6.90, $3.70 and $3.
“They went very, very fast.” Castellano said. “It was a key to the race,
because it set up perfectly for me. It’s a great feeling when you’re turning for
home and you ask your horse for run and he responds and finishes good.”
Diabolical (Artax) was just in front of Silver Wagon during the early running
and rallied along the outside with the winner. He could never quite get past
late, but held second by three parts of a length to return $5.70 and $3.80 at
6-1 while finishing the $32.20 exacta. Ah Day (Malibu Moon) moved up from last
to take third at 8-1, worth $4.10 while ending the $134 trifecta (4-5-3). Latent
Heat was another three parts of a length back in fourth and was followed by
Keyed Entry and Kazoo (Tabasco Cat). Wild Jam (Forest Wildcat) was withdrawn.
Silver Wagon, winner of the 2003 Hopeful S. (G1), began this year’s campaign
with a third in the Sunshine Millions Classic before taking the General George
Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) prior to this one. Last year, he captured the Sport Page
Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) and also owns placings in the 2005 editions of the
Metropolitan H. (G1) and Forego S. (G1).
Bred in Florida by Mr. & Mrs. Leverett S. Miller, Silver Wagon brought
$120,000 as an OBS February two-year-old. He is the second registered foal out of
the winning So Ritzy (Darn That Alarm) and counts three-time stakes winner
Rehoboth as a full brother, sophomore So Glitzy (Gilded Time) as a half-sister
and an unnamed Smarty Jones yearling as a half-brother.
Dutrow indicated following the race that the gray would be pointed towards
the $600,000 Metropolitan H. (G1) on May 28.