ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 29, 2018) — Silver Creek Stables’ Hardboot, a 10-1 longshot, scored an upset win April 29 in the $100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes for Golden State Series eligible at Golden Gate Fields.
In the one-mile turf test for 3-year-olds bred or sired in California, the son of Lucky Pulpit broke last in the field of 10, as Night At the Opera set fractions of :23.93, :47.87, and 1:11.87 through the first six furlongs.
Turning into the lane, jockey Juan Hernandez swung Hardboot to the outside and ran four wide in the stretch as they pushed forward for a last-ditch effort in the final furlong. As he blew past the waning Night At the Opera, Hardboot made short work of the remaining contenders, won by 1 3/4 lengths and completed the race in a time of 1:37.33. Unpossible finished second, with Psycho Dar a half-length behind in third. Luke’s On Fire finished fourth.
The winner paid $22.80, $10, and $7.60.
Bred by James Mann and trained by Michele Dollase, Hardboot is out of the Cryptoclearance mare Mme. Espionage. The Silky Sullivan win is the first for the colt since he broke his maiden in November at Del Mar.