For the second straight year, a 2-year-old Texas-bred gray filly from the barn of trainer Bret Calhoun invaded Churchill Downs to raid the Debutante.
Last year, it was Fiftyshadesofgold, who went on to win this year's Eight Belles (gr. III) on Kentucky Oaks Day. This time, it was Promise Me Silver who put away 7-5 favorite Unbridled Reward down the stretch to win the 114th running of the $108,300 race by two lengths June 21 (VIDEO).
Owned and bred by Robert Luttrell, Promise Me Silver ran six furlongs over a fast track in 1:11.49 to give jockey Robby Albarado his fourth winner in the juvenile filly test.
Unbridled Reward broke fastest of all in the field of six and was pressed by Chicago invader Irish Nuggets through early fractions of :22.22 and :45.93. Promise Me Silver tracked the leaders from the outside in third, drew even midway through the turn and spurted clear of Unbridled Reward with three-sixteenths of a mile to run. She led by three lengths mid-stretch en route to the convincing win.
"When I called on her to go after (Unbridled Reward) she did it very quickly," Albarado said. "She's a very talented and very smart filly."
It was another 11 1/4 lengths back to third-place finisher Rousanne.
Promise Me Silver, the 2-1 second betting choice, paid $6.20, $3.20 and $2.60. Unbridled Reward, ridden by Alan Garcia, returned $3 and $2.60. Rousanne, with Shaun Bridgmohan up, paid $4.20.
Irish Nuggets, Rachel's Ready, and Ol Sanish completed the order of finish.
Each of the entrants made one career start prior to the Debutante. Promise Me Silver, a daughter of Silver City out of the winning Macho Uno mare Uno Mas Promesa, debuted May 11 against state-breds at Lone Star Park with a 6 3/4-length romp. It wasn't as easy Saturday as Albarado, deputizing for the injured Rosie Napravnik, urged her home with left-handed taps from his riding crop.
"I know coming out of Lone Star sometimes they don't give them quite as much credit but all those guys have their 2-year-olds ready early on," Calhoun said. "She broke from the one-hole in her first start and manhandled the group. Then she came up here and trained forwardly and I knew she had a lot of talent."
The triumph was worth $66,475 and improved Promise Me Silver's bankroll to $78,355 in two starts. Calhoun suggested that her next race could be a stakes event at Saratoga Race Course. The $150,000 Schuylerville (gr. III) at six furlongs will be run on the Spa's opening day July 18.
The Debutante was first staged in 1895.
Power Me Silver comes home strong to win the Debutante.
