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Met Mile Winner Silver State to Stand at Claiborne

Hard Spun colt will stand at the Paris, Ky., farm upon his retirement from racing.

Silver State wins the Metropolitan Handicap under a jubilant Ricardo Santana Jr. at Belmont Park

Silver State wins the Metropolitan Handicap under a jubilant Ricardo Santana Jr. at Belmont Park

Skip Dickstein

Claiborne Farm has acquired the breeding rights to grade 1 victor Silver State . He will stand at the Paris, Ky., farm upon his retirement from racing.

The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun  has won seven of 13 career starts, hitting the board in 12 of those races. He has earned more than $1.9 million. In 2021 alone, he is 4-1-1 from six starts and has earned more than $1.6 million. 

"We are very excited to stand Silver State in 2022," said Claiborne's Walker Hancock in an Oct. 12 release announcing the deal. "Danzig is one of the legends of Claiborne, and we anticipate his legacy continuing through his grandson, Silver State."

Video

Silver State is being pointed toward this year's Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar after earning a "Win and You're In" berth by winning the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) June 5 at Belmont Park. In the stallion-making Met Mile he defeated three grade 1 winners, including multiple grade 1 winner Knicks Go 

Since the Met Mile, he ran third in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and second in the Parx Dirt Mile Stakes at Parx Racing.

Late last year and into 2021 Silver State won six straight races, including the listed Fifth Season Stakes and Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park, the Oaklawn Handicap (G2), and then the Met Mile, where he finished a length ahead of By My Standards .

Silver State<br>
Saratoga racing scenes in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. on Aug. 5, 2021.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Silver State at Saratoga Race Course

Trained by Steve Asmussen for the partnership of Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing, the most accomplished son of Hard Spun has posted wins in each of his three campaigns. Silver State won on debut as a juvenile in a maiden special weight during the September meet at Churchill Downs. At age 3, a minor setback knocked him off the Triple Crown Trail, but he returned to the races later that year to score allowance and allowance optional claiming wins at Keeneland and Churchill.

"He's a tremendous physical," said Asmussen. "Everyone that's been around this horse is struck by his presence. He really must be seen to be believed."

Ron Winchell of Winchell Thoroughbreds, added, "For any horse to win six races in a row, especially when those victories included races as well-regarded as the Oaklawn Handicap and Met Mile, is pretty incredible and puts him in a special category. Looking ahead to his stud career, we couldn't be more excited about Silver State finding a home at Claiborne. We're looking forward to supporting him with our mares and can't wait to see his offspring."

A product of the vaunted Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings breeding program, Silver State is out of the grade 3-placed, stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Supreme. His second dam is the late Maria's Mon mare Mon Belle, a full sister to Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Monarchos. Silver State sold for $450,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale as part of the Eaton Sales consignment.

An advertised stud fee will be announced at a later date.