SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — After being competitive in most of his half-dozen graded/group appearances as a three-year-old, Silver Knott has stepped up his game at four, pairing up G2 victories in the Elkhorn and Man o’ War Stakes to establish himself as a contender in the male turf division.
The Lope de Vega gelding has been made the 4-5 favorite in Sunday’s 11-furlong Bowling Green Stakes (G2) here at the Spa. Flavian Prat will be aboard the Godolphin homebred for trainer Charlie Appleby.
Second choice on the morning line is Ohana Honor at 7-2. The late-developing Honor Code ridgling, conditioned by Shug MaGaughey, exits his first two tries at the graded-stakes level in which he finished second behind Silver Knott in the Man o’ War and a rallying third behind Godolphin heavyweights Measured Time and Nations Pride in the Manhattan Stakes (G1).
Soldier Rising (4-1) makes his first start of the year after running second in five G1 and G2 races in 2023, including the Man o’ War, Manhattan and Sword Dancer. The Frankel gelding, conditioned by Christophe Clement, has yet to win at the graded-stakes level but has banked over $1.3 million while coming close. Soldier Rising has reeled off a series of solid works at the Oklahoma turf training course at Saratoga.
Seven-year-old Sugoi (10-1) won the 12-furlong Louisville Stakes (G3) two starts back. The remainder of the Bowling Green field consists of Strong Quality (10-1), Strong Tide (15-1) and English Conqueror (20-1).
Notes: Conspicuous by his absence in this year’s Bowling Green is Channel Maker, who was retired last October after running in the race five times between 2018 and 2023, winning it twice – as a four-year-old in 2018 and at nine last summer. The popular English Channel gelding was trainer by Bill Mott and earned nearly $4 million in his 56 starts.
During the past ten years, all ten winners of the Bowling Green have gone on to also run in the Sword Dancer (G1). Two of them swept both races, Flintshire in 2016 and Glorious Empire, who deadheated with Channel Maker, in 2018.
Originally Published: July 27, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
Source link : https://www.saratogian.com/2024/07/27/horse-racing-silver-knott-the-odds-on-choice-in-bowling-green/
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Publish date : 2024-07-28 03:33:12
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