Silver Max ended reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan's winning streak at nine Saturday, winning the $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland.
Silver Max, a 4-year-old colt trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Robby Albarado, beat Wise Dan by 1 1/4 lengths in the race moved to the synthetic Polytrack because of heavy rain.
The surface change meant that the race no longer guaranteed the winner a spot in the Breeders' Cup Mile next month at Santa Anita along with the paid travel and entry fees.
''He earned his way to California,'' Romans said. ''We're just going to have to pay for it.''
Silver Max ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.06 and paid $17, $4.40 and $4. Wise Dan returned $2.60 and $2.10, and Willcox Inn paid $4.80 to show.
The Turf Mile was one of five major stakes on the card.
In the other races, We Miss Artie won the $400,000 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity; filly Better Lucky won the $400,000 First Lady; Judy the Beauty won the $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America; and turf sprinter Havelock rallied from last to take the $150,000 Woodford Reserve.
