Silver Clouds: A Bargain in More Than One Way

The first race of this year’s Bargain Bred Racing Series is in the books and it was a contest right out of the gate, with Wonnaby Great going head-to-head with Our Sovereign (who was inexplicably left out of the preview; my apologies to his connections).  Random Youngster was a bit rank in third, with the others strung out behind and the eventual winner, proven stayer Silver Clouds, loping along in the back of the pack.

A good chunk of the field was unproven at distances approaching the Bargain Derby‘s 9.5 furlongs, and by the midpoint, the pacesetters were wearing down.  Empire of Damascus took the first run at them, and had his nose in front at the third call as he went steadily by Jacobite Tolltaker.

With ‘Damascus running smoothly and no one up ahead, Robert Lott relaxed in the irons and was caught unawares as the two-mile winner Silver Clouds swept wide and fast, locking in on the leader, narrowing the gap with every stride, shoving his chestnut nose in front just a jump before the wire.  ‘Damascus was much the best of the rest, with William Thomas evenly in third.

Silver Clouds is a chestnut son of One Nice Cat, out of a Hoist the Silver mare.  He’s not just a bargain by way of points; he was pulled out of a $10,000 claiming race.  The Bargain Derby is his third career win and first stakes win, and pushed his earnings to to nearly $70,000.

The next race for three-year-olds in the series is the 100 Guineas on the turf, followed by The Bronx at 11 furlongs back on the dirt.  Silver Clouds was unplaced in one start on the grass, but his connections have not entirely ruled out the 100 Guineas.  In that case, it may be a while before he sees Empire of Damascus again; the Cvbear Racing Empire has indicated a preference for the shorter Bargain Bred events.