Silence Son made a very nice impression in his California debut at Cal Expo last week, playing the role of pocket rocket to capture the Open II Trot with Dave Siegel guiding for trainer George Reider.
Reider co-owns the five-year-old with Dave and Rob Haness and Gregg Robinson, and he was making his fourth start and registering his second win since being claimed for $7,500 at Running Aces in early August.
“I took 12 horses to Running Aces this summer, and one of them was the trotter Axle, who raced here last spring,” Reider said. “He got claimed about halfway through the meet and Silence Son was entered the next week for $7,500, so I talked to Dave and Rob and we decided to take him.
“This horse was pretty much a basket case when I got him, so I decided to change the shoeing, took off all the equipment and started from scratch. He’s a totally different horse now, though he’s a still a little temperamental when you to turn him toward the gate, and I let Dave know that.”
Siegel was able to work out a perfect two-hole trip behind odds-on I Love New York in his opening-week assignment, then had the needed response when asked the question in the stretch and went on to a length-and-a-quarter score.
Reider is quick to point out that his assistant trainer, Kimberly Hines, has done wonders with Silence Son’s attitude, and that is one of the reasons he’s raced so well since joining the barn. “I also think the more Dave sits behind him the better they will get along,” added Reider. “It’s going to be fun to see what kind of horse he turns out to be.”
Silence Son is back in action Saturday night in the Kent Fox Memorial, paying the price for his recent success by leaving from the outside post in the field of six with Siegel back at the controls. As his trainer noted, it should be fun.
Kent Fox Memorial, Series Legs Head Card
The second leg of the Annette Funicello and Bill Conlin Pacing series and the Kent Fox Memorial Race for Open II trotters headline the Saturday program at the Watch and Wager LLC meet at Cal Expo.
First post for the 14-race card is 6:15 p.m.. Racing will be conducted on Saturday nights in October, expanding to Saturday and Sunday programs in November. Plans then call for a three-night-a-week schedule beginning December 26 with Friday racing added to the mix.
Last week’s opening legs of the Funicello and Conlin saw driver/trainer Steve Wiseman capturing both divisions of the former and one of the two divisions of the Conlin with Wild About Eagle and Razzle Be Dazzed posing following the two Funicello events and Winsmith Syd in one of the Conlin section.
The other leg of the Conlin was captured by Mr. Prospector for driver/trainer Quentin Schneider and all four pacers will be back in action on Saturday’s card, with just one division of each series being held in preparation for next week’s finales.
Wild About Eagle prevailed by a neck over odds-on High Bet Hanover in her division of the Annette Funicello, while Razzle Be Dazzled romped home by over six lengths as the heavy favourite in her section.
Like his stablemates, Winsmith Syd arrived from Running Aces ready to rock and roll and got the job done in his Bill Conlin division, while Canadian invader Mr Prospector did the stalk-and-pounce to perfection to win the other section going away for Schnedier.
The Kent Fox Memorial is the fourth race on the card and is named for the longtime horseman that passed away last month at ago 70. Heading the cast is last week’s Open II Trot winner Silence Son and the pace-setting favourite from that affair I Love New York.
‘Foxy’ to everyone who knew him, Kent Fox was an owner, horseman and mutuel clerk for over 40 years. Graduating from Carlmont high school in Belmont California in 1963, Foxy eventually entered the military during the Vietnam War.
Afterwards, he found his way to the race track, finding work as a mutuel clerk, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. But it was his love of the horses that made Foxy unique. Of all his horses, two were his favourite, both trotters (My Tryin Ryan and High Dollar).
After a win you could bet Foxy would be driving his golf cart in the barn area the next morning passing out boxes of donuts to his friends. And he always had a treat or three for the barn dogs who were there.
A kind and compassionate man with a great sense of humour, Foxy was always there to help a friend in need or another fellow horseman. But his horses were his family and he treated them like royalty. In the morning you could usually find Foxy at the barn either passing out horse treats or jogging one of his own and always with a smile on his face.
Memorials posted instantly on Facebook and text messages sent as the Cal Expo community found out about Foxy’s passing. He was one of the good guys many said or you don’t find people like Foxy anymore. Many agree though Foxy will be missed and never forgotten.
(Cal Expo)