Sterling Silver becomes millionaire in $125K Biogio’s Rose

Mark T. Anderson’s Sterling Silver attained millionaire status through her closing score in Sunday’s $125,000 Biogio’s Rose, a one-turn mile for older New York-bred fillies and mares, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 6-year-old Cupid gray entered with $937,301 and the winner’s share of $68,750 pushes her over the $1 million mark in career earnings. Sterling Silver has gotten plenty of gold in her now 29-race career, capturing her fifth stakes inside of a 9-5-5 record. 

“She’s a super cool horse – very consistent,” said Mott’s Bemont Park-based assistant Leana Willaford. “I thought she ran really well today. They went pretty quick the second quarter, which was helpful, and she finished like she was supposed to.”

Piloted by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, Sterling Silver exited post 3 to settle five lengths off the pace in fourth position behind the speed duel between Khali Magic and Bernietakescharge through an opening quarter-mile in 23.01 seconds over the muddy and sealed footing. 

Khali Magic and Bernietakescharge came back to the field after a sharp half-mile in 45.63, with Sterling Silver still well off-the-pace as she followed Sweet Brown Sugar towards the leaders into the turn.

“I rode with a lot of patience today because I feel like I had the best horse in the race. I didn’t want to chase the speed, took my time with her,” Castellano explained. “I’m confident that when I ask her, she’s going to give it to me. At the quarter-pole, I gave her a little breath then let her roll, and she responded so well.”

Sweet Brown Sugar reeled in the front pair midway through the turn with a wide move to the lead, but Sterling Silver mirrored her rally coming to the top of the lane as three quarters elapsed in 1:10.81. 

Sterling Silver, once straightened for home, ramped up down the center of the lane, as Lane Luzzi asked Sweet Brown Sugar for more to her inside. That rival clung to a head advantage at the eighth pole, but Sterling Silver’s class prevailed as she surged to a 1 3/4-length score in a final time of 1:35.70.

Caldwell Luvs Gold, the early trailer, landed four lengths back in third, with Khali Magic and Bernietakescharge completing the order of finish. 

"I love it. She’s a very classy horse. I think between seven-eighths and a mile; that’s a good distance for her. It was a lot of speed in the race, five-horse field, but three main speed. It was a good setup for her,” said Castellano. “She can be closer, but I don’t have to rush her to be close to the pace, she can go either way. I liked the way she kicked today, and she finished really well galloping out great. 

“She’s a pro. She’s a good mare and she does everything with class,” added Castellano. 

Sterling Silver, who returned $3.10 for a $2 win bet as the post-time favorite, has made six Grade 1 attempts led by fourth-place finishes in the Madison in April at Keeneland and the 2022 Test at Saratoga. She spent the bulk of her career with the now retired trainer Tom Albertrani and moved to Mott’s care last June, winning the Johnstone Mile Handicap in August at Saratoga Race Course. 

Paul Barrow, trainer of multiple stakes winner Sweet Brown Sugar, tipped his cap to Sterling Silver. 

“I thought our jock did a great job putting her in a position to win. The horse seemed ready – she fired. I think she just got a little outrun late in the race. It was a good effort by our filly, but it was just a little better effort by Mr. Mott’s filly,” Barrow said. 

Luzzi said he anticipated the race setting up for closers, but Sterling Silver was just too much. 

“My filly is a game little filly and it kind of set up the way we thought it would,” said Luzzi, of the pace duel. “From there, it was kind of a two-horse race between our filly and Mott’s filly. My filly tries every time, so I can’t complain with second today.”

Out of the Distorted Humor mare Sheet Humor, Sterling Silver, bred by Mallory Mort and Karen Mort, was a $13,000 purchase at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase. 

Live racing resumes Thursday at the Big A with an eight-race program. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack spring meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.
 
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