Paulassilverlining returns for new connections with Madison victory

Making her first start for owner Juddmonte Farms and trainer Chad Brown, Paulassilverlining opened her 5-year-old season in excellent fashion as she gamely prevailed by a neck in the $300,000 Madison (G1) at Keeneland. Jose Ortiz was up on the 9-5 choice.

Now a seven-time stakes heroine, the daughter of Ghostzapper has won three of her last four outings and improved her overall record to 19-9-4-3 with earnings of $1,188,950. Last seen capturing the December 10 Garland of Roses on the Aqueduct inner track, the bay mare notched her first Grade 1 triumph when completing 7-furlongs in 1:10.90.

Constellation established fractions in :23.03 and :46.40 as Paulassilverlining stalked the action in fourth. Ortiz guided his mount wide off the far turn and Constellation also cornered toward the middle of track in upper stretch.

The eventual winner appeared to be going best as she rallied to the lead in deep stretch but Constellation had more to offer, battling back to near even terms as she just missed on the wire. The runner-up was off as the 3-1 second choice and wound up 2 1/2 lengths better than Paid Up Subscriber in third.

Previously owned by breeder Vince Scuderi, the Kentucky-bred Paulassilverlining hails from the Grinstone mare Seeking the Silver and counts multiple Grade 1 winner Dad’s Caps as a half-brother.