To the satisfaction of his many backers, Silver Slugger scored an easy gate-to-wire win Sunday at Monmouth Park in the $98,000 Rumson Stakes.
Silver Slugger broke sharply. Paco Lopez put him on the lead through splits of 22.28 and 45.76, and Silver Slugger took care of business. Lopez played a bit of possum around the far turn, giving his mount a breather as Northern Flame, directly to his outside, and Super Chow, still farther out in the track, drew nearer. Lopez had plenty of horse, floating his pursuers wide turning for home, opening up, and coasting to a 4 1/2-length score.
Super Chow ground his way into second, a neck better than Northern Flame as Silver Slugger ran five furlongs over a fast track in 57.98. Narrowly favored over Super Chow on what seemed like a reasonable morning line, Super Chow went off at 1-2 and paid $3.
The 5-year-old gelding, trained for Victoria Ranch by Juan Avila, finished second Aug. 21 in a Colonial Downs starter allowance race, but came roaring back on 10 days' rest to win on the jump into stakes competition.
Bred in Kentucky by Frankfort Park Farm, Silver Slugger is by Cairo Prince out of One More Wild Ride, by Wildcat Heir.
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