Puerto Madero Upsets Silver Charm
Puerto Madero, a Chilean horse who has been in the United States less than a year, charged to the front entering the homestretch to upset the hard-charging Silver Charm in the $500,000 Donn Handicap.
Puerto Madero, the 7-2 second choice, overtook dueling leaders Sir Bear and Littlebitlively on the final turn and pulled away down the stretch to win by 2 and 1/2 lengths over Behrens.
Silver Charm, whose odds fell to 4-5 by post time, couldn't overcome the outside post position in the 12-horse field and needed a fast charge to finish third by a nose in front of Hanarsaan.
The result marked only the second time in 21 starts that Silver Charm had not finished first or second. The other came in last July's San Diego Handicap, when he finished last in a field of five.
"It's a heck of a lot more than disappointing," Silver Charm owner Bob Lewis said.
The result dealt Silver Charm a setback in his quest to become thoroughbred racing's first $10 million horse. The $50,000 share still moved Silver Charm past Alysheba into third place all-time with $6,683,006.
Puerto Madero won for the 11th time in 16 career starts, but was something of an unknown since the first 10 came in South America. The Donn was his second consecutive victory, going with the Native Diver Handicap last month at Hollywood Park.
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| Puerto Madero made his move at the final turn and burst to the front for the win. (AP) |
Puerto Madero, with Kent Desormeaux aboard, paid $10.40, $5.60 and $3.20 for the win. Behrens returned $9.80 and $4.80, while Silver Charm paid $2.40 to show.
Silver Charm, carrying a high, weight of 126 pounds, never could get to the front as the field broke from the gate. Littlebitlively and local entry Sir Bear engaged in a speed duel at the front while Puerto Madero sat just off the leaders.
Silver Charm was ninth after the first quarter-mile and fell as far as 10 lengths behind along the backstretch despite constant urging by jockey Gary Stevens.
The leaders began to fade around the far turn and Puerto Madero took advantage, shooting to the front on the outside with Behrens in tow. Silver Charm finally took off around the far turn, but it was too late.
Silver Charm will return to California for an expected run in the Santa Anita Handicap in March, then to the Middle East to defend his title in the $5 million Dubai World Cup later in the month.
Should Silver Charm win those races, it would leave him just some $316,000 shy of Cigar's record. Skip Away, last year's Donn winner and favorite for 198 Horse of the Year, is second with $9,616,360 before retiring last November.
The Donn was the debut race of the NTRA Champions series, 11 televised races designed to showcase horse racing's older champions. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association set up the series as a way to increase the sport's visibility.
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