For the seventh straight week, TAPIT registered a stakes performer as a sire or broodmare sire when his determined son Silver Dust won the Ben Ali (G3) at Keeneland.
Racing over 1 1/8 miles on the dirt during a rainy day in Lexington, Silver Dust broke a step slowly but showed off his speed when he went from last to second in less than a furlong. From there, he stuck to the leader around the track.
As they entered the turn, Silver Dust drew even with him and then stuck his head in front. Silver Dust had a battle on his hands as multiple horses, including that long time leader, continued to battle down the stretch. Silver Dust proved to be the most determined horse in the field when taking a clear lead close to the line and winning by half a length.
“I just think he’s been good lately,” said trainer Bret Calhoun’s assistant Jade Lowder. “He’s been ready to throw a race like this and Bret’s done a great job with him. Five-horse field, outside trip the whole way. I think he really liked the track and liked the going.”
It was the fourth graded stakes victory for Tom Durant’s 7-year-old Silver Dust, who is nearing $1 million in earnings with $975,677 after today.
Bred by Don Alberto Corporation, Silver Dust is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Forza Di Oro and out of a stakes winning half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Gouldings Green and Korean champion Cheongdam Dokki from the family of multiple Grade 1 winner Stop Traffic.
A leading sire year after year, TAPIT is the sire of 14 stakes horses and six stakes winners in 2021.
Silver Dust gets win the Ben Ali Stakes by a neck @KeenelandRacing! pic.twitter.com/NLfkivrny8
— TVG (@TVG) April 10, 2021