It took three tries this year, but the betting public finally got it right with Silver Knott .
In his first two starts of 2024, Godolphin’s 4-year-old Lope de Vega gelding won the Man o’ War Stakes (G2T) and the Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) at odds of 4-1 and 5-1, respectively.
The third start proved to be the charm in terms of attracting interest among gamblers as he was sent off as an odds-on 2-5 favorite and responded with a 2 1/2-length course-record victory in the $242,500 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) July 28 at Saratoga Race Course.
“He got pestered on the lead there, so he went quick enough. (It was a) course record,” said Alex Merriam, assistant to winning trainer Charlie Appleby. “So, it shows it was a pretty good performance really on the front end. Back in England, we’re not big on the clock back home – so, it’s a bit different, but he looked to be comfortable in himself. (Jockey Flavien Prat) seemed to have plenty in hand, so I was always pretty confident.”
A multiple group 3 winner overseas before arriving in the United States last spring, Silver Knott showed promise in his new environment.
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He was winless in five starts, but was third in the Hollywood Derby (G1T), second in the Twilight Derby (G2T), and third in the Secretariat (G2T) and Pennine Ridge Stakes (G2T).
At 4, he has put it all together with a trio of impressive wins.
In Sunday’s test, Prat took Silver Knott ($2.80) to the front shortly after the start and that pretty much ended the drama in the 1 3/8-mile turf test. He was pressed by Ohana Honor through a half-mile in :47.98 and six furlongs in 1:12.98 while leading by a half-length. After fending off that bid, Silver Knott drew clear in the stretch and was unchallenged to the wire as Soldier Rising and Strong Tide battled for second in the field of five.
The final time of 2:11.03 eclipsed the track record of 2:11.40 on the inner turf course.
“There was not much pace in the race,” Prat said. “I thought he was the best horse.”
Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, Wonder Stables, and Michael Caruso’s Soldier Rising was second in a result that was as predictable as Silver Knott’s victory. The 6-year-old Frankel gelding may still be searching for his initial graded stakes win, but the Bowling Green marked a fourth straight runner-up finish, twice in grade 1 company and twice in a grade 2 stakes.
Trained by Christophe Clement, he has finished second in six of his last seven starts, with four coming in grade 1 stakes, and has earned $1.35 million. He’s been second in 11 of 22 starts.
“Good job by Christophe,” jockey Jose Ortiz said. “The horse was ready to run this distance. He’s a nice horse, but we need to get him to the wire first. He always runs good.”
Penny Lauer’s Strong Tide, a son of English Channel trained by Michael Lauer, was a neck back in third.
When asked about the possibility of running Silver Knott in the Aug. 24 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (G1T), Marriam said Appleby was pointing Godolphin’s Measured Time to the $750,000 stakes, adding that Silver Knott could return in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Bred by St. Albans Bloodstock out of the Nathaniel mare God Given, Silver Knott is the first of her three foals and the lone winner.
He was purchased for $1,035,915 by Godolphin out of the Whatton Manor Stud consignment at the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
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