Group Three Winner for Lion Heart

1st September 2008

Talented colt Silent Valor (2c Lion Heart x Few Choice Words, by Valid Appeal) confirmed his potential with a dominant display to win the Group Three Sapling Stakes at Monmouth on Sunday.

Having his third race start, the Todd Pletcher trained Silent Valor camped well off the speed for jockey Stewart Elliott and then hunted down the leader in the stretch to win the six furlong assignment by a length and a half.

“He’s a really easy horse to ride,” said Stewart Elliott.

“He does whatever you ask him to. He’ll relax off the pace if you are laid back on him early and he can really kick it in when you ask him to. He’s a push-button type of horse. This colt really has a nice future ahead of him.”

Raced by the Lets Go Stable, Silent Valor has two wins and a second from three starts with prizemoney of $131,200.

Bred in Kentucky by Hargus Sexton, Sandra Sexton and Mark Mullen, Silent Valor was sold for $320,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is a half-brother to stakes-winner Miss Jeanne Cat and Group Three placed Well Said being from the Valid Appeal mare Few Choice Words.

Lion Heart is the leading first season sire in North America with 14 winners, Silent Valor his third stakes-winner joining Group Two winner Azul Leon and Lyin’ Heart.