Risen Star S. (gr. III)
(gr. III , 8.5f ,)
BADGE OF SILVER
(DK B/ h,
116
lb) $90,000
Silver Deputy —Silveroo , by
Silver Hawk
B—Trackside Farm,
KY.;
O—Ramsey, Kenneth L. and Sarah K.;
T—Ronny W. Werner
Lone Star Sky
(B h,
122
lb) $30,000
Conquistador Cielo —Ministrada , by
Deputy Minister
B—Jaime S. Carrion,
FL.;
O—Walter L. New;
T—Thomas M. Amoss
Defrere's Vixen
(B g,
114
lb) $16,500
Defrere —Houston Vixen , by
Houston
B—Vail Valley Bloodstock, P.I.,
CO.;
O—Jack A. Oleson;
T—Steven M. Asmussen
Margins: 10, ¾, ½. Others: Prince Alphie 122($9,000) , Saintly Look 122($4,500) , Leo's Last Hurrahy 122 , Indy Dancer 117 , Canaan Land 114 , Seattle Hoofer 116 , Crowned King 117 , Gentlemen J J 114 , Deep Shadow 115 . Winning Jockey, Robby Albarado.
How impressive was Badge of Silver in the Feb. 16 Risen Star Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds? Impressive enough that he ended up the second choice in the first Kentucky Derby (gr. I) future pool that closed an hour after he won by 10 lengths. The 3-year-old Silver Deputy colt was hammered in the future wagering, his 11-1 price second only to the favored field at 2-1.
Badge of Silver, owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Ronny Werner, is now unbeaten in three career starts. He broke his maiden at Keeneland as a juvenile, going 41/2 furlongs April 12, 2002. He was not a well-kept secret in his initial outing, heading postward at $1.30-1 and coasting home in the baby race by nine lengths.
Making only one start at two because of a leg injury, Badge of Silver returned to the races at Fair Grounds on Jan. 23 and showed he had not lost a step. He won a non-winner of one other than allowance by an easy seven lengths.
Badge of Silver has been ridden in all three of his races by Robby Albarado. In the Risen Star, the pair broke sharply from the 10 post and tracked Saintly Look through a quarter in :23.71 and half in :47.42. Badge of Silver took the lead after six furlongs in 1:12.10. He covered the 11/16 miles in 1:42.99, just missing Zarb’s Magic’s stakes record by .01 seconds.
“He broke so good today, I just got him to settle,” Albarado said. “He just relaxed for me, and I felt I had a lot of horse from start to finish. You have to think since he finished so strong that he should get a little added distance.”
Badge of Silver is being pointed next toward the March 9 Louisiana Derby (gr. II).
The Risen Star winner was bred in Kentucky by Liberation Farm, Oratis Thoroughbreds, and Trackside Farm. He was purchased by the Ramseys for $85,000 at the 2001 Keeneland September sale.
Badge of Silver is one of 47 stakes winners sired by Silver Deputy, who stands at Brookdale Farm near Versailles, Ky. Silver Deputy also sired 2002 added-money winners Bare Necessities (gr. III), Posse (gr. III), Iron Deputy, Persian Silver, Ifyouprefersilver, and Atago Taisho (Jpn-III). Silver Deputy’s fee this year is $40,000.—D.M.L.