Race Recaps Silent Poet, Stein engineer emotional Nearctic Stakes score for Gonzalez October 18, 2020 Credit: Michael Burns Photo Race Recaps Silent Poet, Stein engineer emotional Nearctic Stakes score for Gonzalez October 18, 2020 By: Press Release email Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article TORONTO, ON – Silent Poet, under Justin Stein, delivered an emotional victory for trainer Nick Gonzalez in Sunday’s $290,000 Nearctic Stakes (G2) at Woodbine. Gonzalez, whose wife, assistant trainer Martha Gonzalez, recently passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer, watched Silent Poet, bred and owned by Stronach Stables, put on a show over 6 furlongs on a ‘good’ E. P. Taylor Turf Course. ( Content Continues Below Ad ) It was Silent Poet who was ushered immediately to the front by Stein in the Nearctic, but the 5-year-old son of Silent Name was engaged quickly by last year’s winner City Boy. The front-running pair took the field of eight (Reconfigure was scratched) through an opening 1/4-mile carved out in :23.65. Blind Ambition, in third, and Kanthaka, in fourth, tracked the pacesetting duo. Silent Poet and City Boy continued their front-end battle through a 1/2-mile clip timed in :46.16. The two continued to go head-to-head around the final turn as their rivals endeavored to keep them in their sights. As the field straightened for home, it became a two-horse race for all the spoils with Silent Poet to the inside and City Boy to the outside, both digging in for the final push to the wire. Credit: Michael Burns Photo After almost every step of the 1,320 yards run, Silent Poet came out on top a 1/2-length winner in a time of 1:08.57. City Boy finished 3/4 of a length ahead of Kanthaka, who fended off Olympic Runner by a neck for third. In the last strides, announcer Robert Geller exclaimed, “This one’s for you, Martha.” “It has a lot of meaning,” said Stein, who is enjoying a fruitful 2020 season. “People watching on the outside might not understand, but the family here, the community at Woodbine, I’m sure they were cheering big for this horse for reasons that we all know.” Stein, who has eclipsed the 100-win mark on the campaign, knew just what to expect from Silent Poet at the beginning of the Nearctic and at the end. “He just leaves the gate so quick. He hits his stride right away. With a horse like that, you get position and just slow him down, save as much horse as you can, and he does the rest. He loves his job, and when you ask him to run, he just gives you everything. He tows you down the lane.” The win was the fourth from 5 starts in 2020 for the ultra-consistent dark bay, who now sports a record of 10-4-2 from 18 career starts. Credit: Michael Burns Photo Silent Poet now has three graded titles to his name, having won this year’s Connaught Cup (G2) and the 2019 running of the Play the King (G2). He launched his career on August 25, 2017, finishing second in his debut before going to win his next 2 starts the following year. Silent Poet paid $5.40, $3.70 and $2.80. The 5-8 exactor with City Boy ($10.60, $5.20) returned $51.60 and the 5-8-2 triactor with Kanthaka ($3.20 to show) paid $187.70. Olympic Runner completed a 5-8-2-9 superfecta worth $378.10 for $1.
Kentucky Downs and Del Mar Picks & Previews | Blinkers Off 683 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for this weekend’s… Read More
Kentucky Downs Pick 5 Preview | The Magic Mike Show 565 The Magic Mike Show guys preview & give their tickets… Read More
College Football Picks & NFL Tips | Dudes Who Bet Sports 205 Aaron & Papa Dude give their College Football picks for… Read More
Pacific Classic 2024 Picks and Rapid-Fire | Blinkers Off 682 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for Saturday’s $1… Read More
Del Mar Pick 5 Preview | The Magic Mike Show 564 The Magic Mike Show guys preview & give their tickets… Read More
Kentucky Downs Picks | Turf Sprint Stakes 2024 [Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint] Aaron previews the 2024 Turf Sprint Stakes (G2) at Kentucky… Read More
Kentucky Downs FREE Win Picks | September 7, 2024 Get our FREE win picks at Kentucky Downs on September… Read More
Del Mar FREE Win Picks | September 7, 2024 Get our FREE win picks at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club… Read More
Kentucky Downs Exacta Picks & Plays | Turf Cup Stakes 2024 [Breeders’ Cup Turf] Dr. Miranda gives her exacta picks & plays from the… Read More
Rocket Picks 🚀: Del Mar, Kentucky Downs, & Gulfstream Park for September 7, 2024 Let’s kick off another big day of horse racing with… Read More