Silverbulletday (USA)
January 22, 1996 – Living
Silver Deputy (CAN) x Rokeby Rose (USA), by Tom Rolfe (USA)
Family 1-c
January 22, 1996 – Living
Silver Deputy (CAN) x Rokeby Rose (USA), by Tom Rolfe (USA)
Family 1-c
As a 3-year-old, Silverbulletday enjoyed such a high reputation after five straight stakes wins against her own division that she was sent to take on the Classic colts in the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1). She ran seventh at a distance that was probably beyond her tether, but her overall record needs no apologies and earned her admission to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame. While she failed to produce any runners with talent remotely approaching her own, two of her daughters have produced graded stakes winners.
Race record
23 starts, 15 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$3,093,207
1998:
1999:
2000:
Honors
Assessments
Highweighted at 123 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 1998, 1 pound above second-rated Excellent Meeting.
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1999, 4 pounds above second-rated Excellent Meeting.
As an individual
A muscular, well-made, attractive bay mare, Silverbulletday preferred to run on or near the lead but could stalk the pace. An intelligent animal, she has an independent nature and is not very sociable with humans or other horses. She was very territorial about her stall in her younger years and did not like going out in the rain.
As a producer
Silverbulletday produced 13 named foals, of which six started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Silverbulletday was bred by Highclere, Inc., and Clear Creek. She was owned by Mike Pegram, who bought her for US$155,000 from the 1997 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale, She was trained by Bob Baffert and was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks victory by Gary Stevens, her regular jockey.
Pedigree notes
Silverbulletday’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to Garden Secrets (by Time for a Change), dam of 2001 Acorn Stakes (USA-G1) winner Forest Secrets (by Forest Wildcat) and Grade 3 winner Rumor Has It (by Awesome Again), second dam of Brazilian Group 3 winner Big Wildcat and Grade 3 winner Enstone, and third dam of Grade 2 winner Main Event. Silverbulletday is also a half sister to Rokeby Rosie (by Prized), third dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Sing Sing Sing.
Silverbulletday is out of 1981 Flower Bowl Handicap (USA-G2) winner Rokeby Rose, a half sister to listed stakes sister to listed stakes winner Split Rock (by Alleged) and to restricted stakes winner I Mean It (by In Reality), dam of listed stakes winner Prominent Feather (by Lear Fan) and third dam of Grade 3 winner Pataky Kid. Rokeby Rose is also a half sister to Plum Run (by Run the Gantlet), dam of 1994 Spanish champion 3-year-old filly Pigalle (by Nashamaa) and 1995 Spanish champion 2-year-old male Estragon (by Luth Dancer). In addition, she is a half sister to Venus Bound (by Conquistador Cielo), dam of 2004 Chilean champion older female All Glory (by Honour and Glory), second dam of 2000 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (USA-G1) winner Cindy’s Hero and 2005 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes (USA-G1) winner Fourty Niner’s Son, and third dam of 2019 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Arklow, Grade 2 winner Maraud, and multiple Grade 3 winner Delegation. Finally, Rokeby Rose is a half sister to Gone to Venus (by Gone West), dam of Grade 2 winner Saudi Poetry (by Storm Cat) and third dam of 2018 Secretariat Stakes (USA-G1) winner Carrick.
Rokeby Rose was produced from Rokeby Venus (by Quadrangle). A winning half sister to 1969 American Horse of the Year Arts and Letters (by Ribot), Rokeby Venus is also a half sister to Edalbeau (by Edmundo), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Erodoto (by Within Hail) and to Fair’s Fair (by Ribot), second dam of Grade 3 winner Robannier. In addition, Rokeby Venus is a half sister to Crystal Cave (by Nearctic), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Ann’s Bid (by Spectacular Bid). Rokeby Venus and her siblings are out of All Beautiful (by Battlefield), the 1969 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: January 4, 2024
Race record
23 starts, 15 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$3,093,207
1998:
- Won Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Walmac International Alcibiades Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- Won Golden Rod Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Debutante Stakes (USA-G3, 5.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Sorrento Stakes (USA-G3, 6.5FD, Del Mar)
1999:
- Won Ashland Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Gazelle Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Monmouth)
- Won Davona Dale Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won Fair Grounds Oaks (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- 2nd Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
2000:
- Won Doubledogdare Handicap (USA-L, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Fleur de Lis Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Delaware Handicap (USA-G3, 10FD, Delaware Park)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2009)
- Fair Grounds Hall of Fame (inducted in 2002)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (1998)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1999)
Assessments
Highweighted at 123 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 1998, 1 pound above second-rated Excellent Meeting.
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1999, 4 pounds above second-rated Excellent Meeting.
As an individual
A muscular, well-made, attractive bay mare, Silverbulletday preferred to run on or near the lead but could stalk the pace. An intelligent animal, she has an independent nature and is not very sociable with humans or other horses. She was very territorial about her stall in her younger years and did not like going out in the rain.
As a producer
Silverbulletday produced 13 named foals, of which six started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Silverbulletway (2003, by Storm Cat) never raced but is the dam of 2013 Sunland Derby (USA-G3) winner Govenor Charlie (by Midnight Lute), stakes winner Crisis of Spirit (by Vindication), and 2014 Mexican champion imported 2-year-old filly Pachangera (by Midnight Lute).
- Silver Bullet Moon (2005, by Vindication) never raced but is the dam of 2013 Malibu Stakes (USA-G1) winner Shakin It Up (by Midnight Lute).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Silverbulletday was bred by Highclere, Inc., and Clear Creek. She was owned by Mike Pegram, who bought her for US$155,000 from the 1997 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale, She was trained by Bob Baffert and was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks victory by Gary Stevens, her regular jockey.
Pedigree notes
Silverbulletday’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to Garden Secrets (by Time for a Change), dam of 2001 Acorn Stakes (USA-G1) winner Forest Secrets (by Forest Wildcat) and Grade 3 winner Rumor Has It (by Awesome Again), second dam of Brazilian Group 3 winner Big Wildcat and Grade 3 winner Enstone, and third dam of Grade 2 winner Main Event. Silverbulletday is also a half sister to Rokeby Rosie (by Prized), third dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Sing Sing Sing.
Silverbulletday is out of 1981 Flower Bowl Handicap (USA-G2) winner Rokeby Rose, a half sister to listed stakes sister to listed stakes winner Split Rock (by Alleged) and to restricted stakes winner I Mean It (by In Reality), dam of listed stakes winner Prominent Feather (by Lear Fan) and third dam of Grade 3 winner Pataky Kid. Rokeby Rose is also a half sister to Plum Run (by Run the Gantlet), dam of 1994 Spanish champion 3-year-old filly Pigalle (by Nashamaa) and 1995 Spanish champion 2-year-old male Estragon (by Luth Dancer). In addition, she is a half sister to Venus Bound (by Conquistador Cielo), dam of 2004 Chilean champion older female All Glory (by Honour and Glory), second dam of 2000 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (USA-G1) winner Cindy’s Hero and 2005 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes (USA-G1) winner Fourty Niner’s Son, and third dam of 2019 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Arklow, Grade 2 winner Maraud, and multiple Grade 3 winner Delegation. Finally, Rokeby Rose is a half sister to Gone to Venus (by Gone West), dam of Grade 2 winner Saudi Poetry (by Storm Cat) and third dam of 2018 Secretariat Stakes (USA-G1) winner Carrick.
Rokeby Rose was produced from Rokeby Venus (by Quadrangle). A winning half sister to 1969 American Horse of the Year Arts and Letters (by Ribot), Rokeby Venus is also a half sister to Edalbeau (by Edmundo), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Erodoto (by Within Hail) and to Fair’s Fair (by Ribot), second dam of Grade 3 winner Robannier. In addition, Rokeby Venus is a half sister to Crystal Cave (by Nearctic), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Ann’s Bid (by Spectacular Bid). Rokeby Venus and her siblings are out of All Beautiful (by Battlefield), the 1969 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Books and media
- Silverbulletday is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Footage of Silverbulletday’s victory in the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies can be accessed in the Breeders’ Cup Hall of Champions (https://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/hall-champions/silverbulletday).
Fun facts
- Silverbulletday was named because of owner Mike Pegram’s liking for Coors Lite beer, popularly known as the “Silver Bullet” because of its packaging.
- When Silverbulletday ran in the 1999 Kentucky Oaks, owner Mike Pegram wore the same black suit coat, jeans, boots, and sunglasses that he had worn the previous year when his Real Quiet won the Kentucky Derby.
- Silverbulletday was under consideration for tackling males in the Preakness Stakes but drew the far outside post in a field of 14 (a serious disadvantage to a horse with her running style) and was scratched to run in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes instead. Whether she could have won the Preakness with a more favorable post draw is a question that will never be answered, but the 9½ furlong distance of the race would probably have been more to her liking than the 1½ miles of the Belmont.
- Silverbulletday is the namesake for a stakes race at the Fair Grounds track in New Orleans. The race is part of the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” series and is a prep for the Fair Grounds Oaks.
Last updated: January 4, 2024