Undefeated Sorcerer’s Silver ‘Ready to Take on the Big Boys’

G3 Lexington Likely Following Romp in Gulfstream Feature
Friday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $250,000

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – West Point Thoroughbreds and Domeyko Taylor’s Sorcerer’s Silver unleashed a second dazzling victory in as many career starts Thursday at Gulfstream Park, earning a likely return in the Lexington (G3) at Keeneland April 13 with a seven-length romp under Irad Ortiz Jr. in the Race 5 feature.

“It was great to hear Irad after getting off the horse say, ‘We’re ready to take on the big boys,’” West Point Thoroughbreds founder and president Terry Finley said. “We’ll probably go to the Lexington. I’ve always wanted to win the Preakness. I know that’s a long, long way down the road. I don’t want to sound like an amateur, but if you can’t dream with a horse like this, you probably don’t belong owning horses.”

The 150th Preakness Stakes (G1), the 1 3/16-mile Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, will be run at Pimlico Race Course May 17, four weeks after the 1 1/16-mile Lexington.

Dale Romans-trained Sorcerer’s Silver followed up an 8 ¼-length debut victory in a seven-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds Feb. 1 with an equally impressive performance in Thursday’s six-furlong optional claiming allowance for state-bred 3-year-olds.

“He’s a Florida-bred, and he’s really nice. I think they should take a shot at open company. He’s one of those kind that he’s different,” Ortiz. said. “Everything he’s doing right now he’s doing so easy. He went in 1:09 and I didn’t even lean on him. It’s impressive.”

Sorcerer’s Silver, who was sent to post Thursday at 1-5 in a field of six, broke alertly but was outgunned for the lead on the backstretch by Aero Star, who completed the first quarter of a mile in 22.50 seconds. After rating kindly for Ortiz, Sorcerer’s Silver moved to the lead on the turn into the homestretch to show the way past a half-mile in 45.41. The son of Good Magic moved away under minimal urging from Ortiz to win going away in 1:09.29.

“When they finish with their ears up and they look like they’re enjoying their work, you know you have something to work with,” Finley said.

Friday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $250,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $250,000 Friday at Gulfstream Park, where the popular multi-race wager went unsolved Thursday for the third consecutive racing day.

Friday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a mile optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares in Race 8. Dorth Vader has been installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite for her 2025 debut. The Florida-bred 5-year-old daughter of Girvin won the 2023 Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream prior to a fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) for trainer Michael Yates. Transferred to George Weaver, she finished second by a neck in the 2023 Acorn (G1) and fourth in the Test (G1). She made only one start last year, a fourth-place finish in the La Troienne (G1). Dorth Vader will race without blinkers for the first time Friday. Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the mount.

A mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is set for Sunday on the final program of the 2024-2025 Championship Meet.

The Rainbow 6 carryover pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool usually goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool. On mandatory-payout days, the entire Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is paid out to the bettor or bettors with the most winners in the wager’s six-race sequence.

Who’s Hot: Leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode rising star Sorcerer’s Silver ($2.60) for an impressive victory in the Race 5 feature, went on to score aboard Mom’s Martini ($5.60) in Race 6 and Beautiful Crazy ($5.20) in Race 7.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez doubled aboard Crystalaire ($8.40) in Race 2 and Air Combat ($8.40) in Race 8. Emisael Jaramillo also had two wins with Big Boy Jak ($9.60) in Race 3 and Long Gone Sally ($12.40) in Race 4.