Kentucky Derby contender profile: Silver Prospector

Durability is an asset for any racehorse, particularly those hoping to handle the grind of the Triple Crown. And it seems safe to say Silver Prospector has the fortitude to survive and thrive in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and beyond.

Ed and Susie Orr purchased the beautiful gray colt for $190,000 as a 2-year-old in training, which seems more and more like a bargain with every passing month. Under the care of trainer Steve Asmussen, Silver Prospector ran six times as a juvenile, and lost his first three starts on grass before he was switched to dirt and promptly broke his maiden at Keeneland.

Silver Prospector ended the season with a pair of encouraging runs against stakes company at Churchill Downs, the host track of the Kentucky Derby. A third-place finish in the Street Sense S. was followed but a gutsy victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), in which Silver Prospector rallied to defeat next-out Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race winners Tiz the Law and Enforceable.

Following a brief winter break, Silver Prospector returned to action in the Jan. 24 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn, where a slow pace and a speed-favoring muddy track severely compromised his chances.

Silver Prospector finished a distant fourth, but rebounded sharply over a fair track in Oaklawn’s rich Southwest (G3) on Feb. 17. In a professional performance, Silver Prospector waited patiently inside and behind horses, before he shifted out and rallied to win the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:43.01.

Despite his busy racing schedule, Silver Prospector has shown no signs of slowing down. If anything, he’s improving with experience and maturity. This isn’t surprising, since his immediate ancestors showed similar traits on track.

Sire Declaration of War was as tough as they come. He competed in seven straight Grade 1 races during 2013, while dam Tap Softly (a daughter of top stallion Tapit) peaked at the end of her busy, 24-race career.

There’s plenty to like about Silver Prospector. He has run well while near the lead and from off the pace. He’s successfully raced inside and outside of rivals. He’s handled fast and sloppy tracks with enthusiasm, and he’s earned back his purchase price multiple times over.

Best of all? Silver Prospector is a proven graded stakes winner at Churchill Downs. If he continues to improve, he’ll be a formidable factor in Louisville on the first Saturday in May.