Farrell faces six in Silverbulletday

Jan 20, 2017 Jennifer Caldwell/Brisnet.com

Seven fillies will be vying for 17 total points on Saturday in the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes, the next race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

The mile-and-70-yard contest takes place at Fair Grounds, which is known for producing Kentucky Oaks (G1) winners. First-place will award 10 points, second is worth four, third garners two and fourth-place takes home one point toward a starting berth in the Kentucky Oaks on May 5 at Churchill Downs.

Among those lining up on Saturday in the Silverbulletday is Farrell, who is no stranger to racing under the Twin Spires. The Wayne Catalano trainee has competed exclusively at the Louisville, Kentucky, track thus far in her career, including a six-length romp in the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) last out on November 26.

Prior to being sent off at 10-1 in that 1 1/16-mile affair, Farrell also finished third in the Rags to Riches Stakes and broke her maiden by five lengths. Jockey Channing Hill has been aboard the Malibu Moon filly for all four of her prior starts and retains the mount on Saturday.

Gris Gris and Wicked Lick are the only other runners with prior stakes experience in the Silverbulletday. The former finished fourth in the Golden Rod and third in the Trapeze Stakes in her past two while Wicked Lick was off-the-board in the grassy Jessamine Stakes (G3). James Graham returns to Gris Gris’ saddle and Brian Hernandez Jr. unites with Wicked Lick once again.

Untapped will be looking to score in her stakes debut in this spot for trainer Steve Asmussen. The chestnut daughter of Tapit broke her maiden in her second outing by 6 1/4 lengths on October 26 at Keeneland, then returned December 23 to take an allowance/optional claimer by 3 1/4 lengths over track and distance. Regular rider Florent Geroux has the call on Untapped.

Summertime Sky took her maiden bow at Fair Grounds on New Year’s Eve, but that start came on the turf course going 5 1/2 furlongs. Trained by Mark Casse, the dark bay miss will be trying a dirt track while going a distance for the first time in the Silverbulletday. Robby Albarado will be holding the reins.

Seeking Bull, who broke her maiden against claimers last out, and winless Harkness, who gets first-time Lasix and blinkers added to help her chances, complete the field.