With a name like Silver Slugger, one would think the Victoria's Ranch gelding would feel right at home in New York City—home of the 27-time World Series champion New York Yankees and the Mets. However, the 6-year-old son of Cairo Prince is the least experienced at Aqueduct Racetrack among the six set to contest the $175,000 John A. Nerud Stakes (G3) May 9.
His five competitors are all multi-winners over the Ozone Park oval, ranging from One Nine Hundred, making five starts over the dirt, while Acoustic Ave has made 18.
Meanwhile, Silver Slugger has only one start at Aqueduct, and it came in this race last year. The result that day was a heartbreaker for the 12-1 longshot, setting the pace on the rail and encountering a three-horse duel for the length of the stretch. His fight gave way in the final strides of the 6-furlong contest, losing by just a head.
The Juan Avila trainee has been favored in all but one of his following 10 starts and closed out his summer with stakes wins at Monmouth Park and Delaware Park. Wintered at Tampa Bay Downs, he won three allowance races and was third in February's Pelican Stakes.
One Nine Hundred has also been favored in most of his eight lifetime starts for LJSS Thoroughbreds, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Adelphi Racing Club, and trainer Thomas Morley. He aims to avenge a third-place finish as the odds-on favorite Feb. 28 in the Tom Fool Stakes (G3).
Jay Em Ess Stable's Full Moon Madness also returns from the Tom Fool, where he was beaten just a nose in second.
