Silent Overdrive Wins Back-to-Back
Titles in the $59,000 Sam Houston Classic at SHRP (Friday,
September 2, 2005) - Defending champion, Silent Overdrive returned
in style tonight at Sam Houston Race Park, capturing the $59,000
Sam Houston Classic (G2). Trained by Janet Van Bebber and ridden
by regular pilot, Alvin “Bubba” Brossette, the 7-year-old
Louisiana-bred gelding nosed out Fast Talkin Val at the wire, completing
the 440-yard stakes in a time of :21.647.
Owned by Richard Slayter, Sr. of Montgomery, Louisiana, Silent
Overdrive defeated a competitive field of eight including Fast Talkin
Val, winner of the $107,190 MBNA America Texas Challenge Championship
(G1) and Gray Invasion, who set a track record in his most recent
win on July 29. Silent Overdrive was making his first start since
placing eighth in the Grade 3 Louisiana Classic at Delta Downs on
July 17.
“He got away on the lead and was in good position the entire
way,” said Brossette. “We were a little worried about
his last race. He got out and was disqualified, which was very disappointing.
But to come back and run a good race after that, we were very pleased.”
“As a horseman, it’s always a real challenge to figure
out what little problem a horse might be having and get it turned
around so the horse can show his full potential,” added Van
Bebber. “That is probably the most rewarding aspect of this
evening. It was a difficult decision about entering him in the Classic
as he is a Louisiana-bred and could have been competing at Louisiana
Downs for more lucrative purses but, most important to me was to
place the horse where he belonged. He ran well here before and the
surface at Sam Houston suits him and we were able to prevail this
evening.”
Fast Talkin Val, trained by Heath Taylor and ridden by Gilbert
Ortiz, was second.
"He was kind of slipping a little bit with his back end,”
said Ortiz, who will ride Make A Secret in Monday’s All American
Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. “I went by him (Silent Overdrive)
by about a head, but he came right back to me. Then at this end,
the gray horse was just flying. I don't know if I hung in there
for second or not. He ran a good race for being off for a long time.
He is just a good honest horse and you just can get a horse like
that to run that good everytime. After a long layoff, going a quarter
of a mile is kind of hard for him. He ran a good race."
This was the fifth Sam Houston Classic for Van Bebber. In addition
Silent Overdrive’s victory in the 2004 Sam Houston Classic,
Van Bebber owned and trained Streakin Sin Tacha, winner in 2002
and she and her late husband, Steve, captured previous editions
of this prestigious stakes with Tailor Fit in 1999 and Lawyer La
Jolla in 1997.
Silent Overdrive ($8.00) earned $35,000 for tonight’s effort
and improved his lifetime record to 17 wins from 38 starts. The
remaining order of finish included Gray Invasion, Sixy Thru Traffic,
Flying Avalanche, Gone Celebrating, Amor Lijero, One Fast Kisser
and La Torch.
Live racing continues at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday, September
3. The ten race card will feature the $35,000-added Governors’
Cup Marathon. There will be a special Labor Day live racing program
beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, September 5 and Sam Houston Race
Park will simulcast the $2 million All American Futurity from Ruidoso
Downs.
News and Notes
On Labor Day, Taylor Anne Van Bebber, the 7-year-old daughter of
leading Sam Houston Race Park trainer, Janet Van Bebber, will sell
her artwork to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The aspiring
artist specializes in horses and wanted to show her support to aid
the devastation affecting our neighboring state of Louisiana.
Patrons wishing to show their support for the Hurricane Relief
can visit Van Bebber in Central Paddock from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. on
Monday, September 5.
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