Festival of the Sun Preview Card Saturday

Karen Keen’s 2-year-old filly Silk Ridge has emerged as the clear leader of her crop developed at Calder this summer after impressive victories in the $100,000 Desert Vixen and $150,000 Susan’s Girl Divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes series last out on Sept. 1, and remains on course to bid for a sweep in the $400,000 My Dear Girl finale on Sat., Oct. 13.

After the Susan’s Girl, veteran horseman Gordon Potter indicated that he might not run Silk Ridge back in the six weeks before the My Dear Girl, but has since decided to give her a first test around two turns in the $150,000 Brave Raj Stakes at one mile and 70 yards on next Saturday’s ‘Festival of the Sun’ PREVIEW program.

The daughter of Eltish breezed six furlongs in1:15 2/5 Friday morning. “She galloped out a mile in 1:44,” said trainer Doug Potter, who is tending to the filly in his Calder barn for his father, who is based in Ocala. “Dad decided six weeks was a long time between the races, and why not take the opportunity to try her around two turns in Saturday’s race.”

Principal rivals for Silk Ridge in the Brave Raj are expected to include Roger Urbina’s Yonagucci, third last out behind national division leader Irish Smoke in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Sept. 2 for trainer Manny Azpurua; and Herb and Ione Elkins’ Calico Bay, runner-up to Silk Ridge in the Desert Vixen and Susan’s Girl for trainer Bill Kaplan.

The $150,000 Foolish Pleasure Stakes, companion event to the Brave Raj, may attract JD Farm’s homebred 2-year-old colt Wise Answer, 6 ¾ lengths winner of the $150,000 Affirmed Division of the FSS last out on Sept. 1 for trainer David Brownlee, who also indicated at the time that he was leaning toward training up to the $400,000 In Reality Division finale.

Friday afternoon, Brownlee said he was pondering a change of plan and would consider the Foolish Pleasure. “He’ll breeze on Saturday morning and then we’ll make a decision,” said the trainer. Wise Answer worked a ‘bullet’ six furlongs in 1:14 2/5 over a ‘fast’ track Saturday morning.

A son of Wised Up, Wise Answer will not be bidding for a sweep in the In Reality as he finished second to Big City Man in the $100,000 Dr. Fager Division of the FSS with a rough trip much of the way in the six-furlong event when trapped on the inside for much of the race.

Others listed as probable/possible for the Foolish Pleasure include Bea Oxenberg’s Hey Byrn, runner-up to Wise Answer in the Affirmed; and Jacks or Better Farm’s Honey Honey Honey and Hollows Lane’s Ed the Boxer, one-two last out in the $55,000 Seacliff Stakes going one mile on Sept. 1.

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