Category: Racing News

Strong First Quarter Results for Silver Train

Silver Train Emerges as a Leading Sire in 2013

Silver Train standing his fourth crop sire year at Northview PA has launched with a successful first quarter by any measure. From 99 runners, Silver Train has produced 32 winners (actually 34-Press to Play and Sweety Alika wins have not been posted yet). He also has a very robust 9 repeat winners for a total of 41 wins (adjusted 43 winners). Earnings are $704,330. This has been accomplished without producing the proverbial “big horse.” Beeliner at $38,630 is his top earner year to date. Finally, his races per starter have improved from 11.2 in the fourth quarter to 11.85 races per starter at the end of the first quarter from a total of 217 lifetime starters.

This places Silver Train as the second leading sire in earnings in the competitive Pennsylvania sire market standing only behind recent import Rockport Harbor. His 32 winners places him 2nd while his 9 repeat winners places him 1st in Pennsylvania.

In the Northeast, Silver Train stands 4th in the rankings based on total earnings behind Rockport Harbor, Bluegrass Cat and Posse all of whom stand at stud fees substantially higher than Silver Train. In terms of winners, Silver Train stands 3rd. In the important repeat winners category, Silver Train stands 1st in the Northeast.

Nationally, Silver Train stands 70th in terms of total earnings. Silver Train’s 32 winners place him 26th on the national list. He is 5th nationally in terms of repeat winners. Taking all of this into consideration, Silver Train is off to an extremely encouraging performance in his 4th crop year.

Henry R. “Hank” Nothhaft

Ogermeister Breaks Maiden First Time Out

Photo of Ogermeister winning MSW @ Belmont on May 16th courtesy NYRA

Anybody involved in horseracing knows that things don’t always go as planned or expected. This was not the case for Ogermeister and his connections on May 16th at Belmont Park. Ogermeister by Silver Train was bet down to 2 to 5 odds by the public for his debut race. He did not disappoint, breaking so sharply from the gate that it looked like his competitors were somehow stuck in time. After bolting out for a multi length lead in the first few hops, Ogermeister and Joel Rosario settled in for an all business ride that resulted in cruise drive, a bit of an effort at the head of the stretch and geared down the last 1/16 of a mile. This resulted in an uncontested win of 6 lengths in a very respectable time of 58.25. This was the first two year old winner at Belmont this year.

The trainer, who is one in the same as the owner, Wesley Ward is well know for his success with two year olds and also getting his horses trained to break smartly from the gate. Therefore, Ogermeister’s performance came as no great surprise and perhaps was even expected. What will be exciting and interesting to see if there is some substance with Ogermeister that will go beyond this great early start.

Henry “Hank” Nothhaft