Silver Mission grabs gold in Tremont victory

Todd Pletcher’s most recent stakes winners not only helped the Eclipse Award-winning trainer sweep the two-year-old stakes at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival but also notched the first stakes wins for freshman sires Bodemeister and Mission Impazible.

One day after Bode’s Dream won the Astoria S. in gate-to-wire fashion, Silver Mission won the Tremont S. in the same style, defeating favored Hey Mike by 6 1/4 lengths in 1:03.78 for 5 1/2 furlongs.

“He was ready to go, and when he popped the gate he just kept going,” Pletcher said of Silver Mission cutting fractions of :22.99, :45.89 and :57.61. “(Jockey) Johnny (Velazquez) said he was super quick and just kept going.”

Mission Impazible stands at Sequel Stallions in New York for a $7,500 fee. Sequel co-bred and co-owns the colt with Twin Creeks Racing Stables, who will run Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner Destin with Pletcher in the Belmont Stakes (G1) on Saturday.

“It’s always nice to see one you trained get off to a good start at stud,” Pletcher said of Mission Impazible, a 2010 Kentucky Derby starter who he trained for Twin Creeks.

Pletcher should know considering he trained champion Uncle Mo, sire of champion Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist.

Pletcher said, as a New York-bred, Silver Mission could target the Rockville Center Stakes before returning to open stakes company.

Lady Stardust, a 5 1/2-length winner of her career debut, scratched at the gate. She was the even-money favorite before scratching.

“That’s bad luck,” Pletcher said. “I hate to see that happen because I know how hard it is to get ready for these types of races, and you make it as the favorite and that happens. Glad to see she looks alright.”

Silver Mission photo courtesy of NYRA/Chelsea Durand/Adam Coglianese Photography