Ifyouprefersilver rocketed from the gates and left the rest of the field in her wake, winning the $150,000 Chou Croute Handicap by more than nine lengths Saturday at Fair Grounds. Ridden by Frank Lovato Jr., Ifyouprefersilver eased through fractions of 23.74 for the quarter-mile and 47.92 for the half-mile. She opened up three lengths in the stretch on Salty Farma, then pulled away. "She is a hard-knocking filly," trainer Mike Stidham said. "I told Frank, 'Let's not give anybody the lead; if we break good and we can be on the lead, let's do it.' It worked perfect." Owned by Gary Biszantz's Cobra Farm, Ifyouprefersilver returned $13.20, $5.40, and $4.40 after covering the 1-1/16 mile race in 1:45.67. "She broke sharply and we pretty much inherited the lead," Lovato said. "I was kind of surprised. I was looking for some challengers, but in the lane I had some horse left, so I knew it was going to take quite a bit to beat her." Salty Farma, the 3-2 favorite, checked in second, two lengths better than Took Out in the eight-horse field. The 4-year-old daughter of Silver Deputy won for the fifth time in six starts. She remained undefeated from three starts at Fair Grounds, after posting a pair of victories here last season. The $90,000 winning check more than doubled her lifetime earnings to $171,910.
(Chart, Equibase)
