After dominating the winter at Cal Expo, Silverlode shipped back to Running Aces and toppled her foes in the $15,000 Open Trot on the first Sunday card of 2019 (May 19).
Banker Volo struck the front first with a burst right off the wings of the gate to challenge Dougs Hobby Horse and take the lead at the quarter in :29.2. Silverlode floated away third from her outside post and advanced to challenge and take over the front near the three-eighths marker.
The fractions were tepid for the top class trotters as they hit the half in just 1:00 and three-quarters in 1:30. Silverlode faced mild pressure near the five-eighths when Al Mar Reba Babe advanced first-over on the outside but was never in jeopardy. Turning for home Silverlode led by two lengths and had full benefit of the soft fractions, kicking home in :29.1 to check in three-and-three-quarter lengths ahead of Banker Volo, with Bringoverthemoney picking up the pieces for third.
Silverlode is a 10-year-old mare by British Sterling and is trained by Kathleen Plested, who co-owns with Medinah Racing. She now has six wins in a row and seven victories in just 10 starts in 2019, and she recently surpassed the quarter-million mark in career earnings with a bankroll of $258,072. Steve Wiseman drove the $3.20 winner.
Just B Talking became the biggest priced winner of the meet so far in Race 7 on the card as owner-trainer-driver Gerald Longo put the long shot on the front to post a 1:58.2 victory and pay $84.40 to win. The victory triggered a carryover in the Hi-5 wager, but then Buzz Light and driver Nick Roland turned in a $24.20 payout with a 1:58 mile in the finale, triggering a double carryover of $8,049.09 for the Hi-5 wager on Tuesday night, May 21.
Drivers Nick Roland and Dean Magee both picked up driving doubles on the Sunday program.
Post time on Tuesday night, May 21 is 7:00 p.m. (CDT).
(with files from Running Aces)