Knightsbridge returns nearly five months after big maiden win

In between watching two of his stars end their careers with Breeders’ Cup victories on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita, trainer Bill Mott watched via simulcast one of his horses provide hope for the future with a dominant victory at Churchill Downs.

Knightsbridge, a son of Nyquist, overcame some trouble down the backside to go record a 10 1/4-length victory at Churchill. He ran seven furlongs in 1:22.96 and earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

It’s taken nearly five months, but Knightsbridge returns to the races Thursday in a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park scheduled for one mile. The feature goes as race 6 on an eight-race card that begins at 1:10 p.m.

Mott said illness and a skin disease played a role in delaying Knightsbridge’s return to the races. Mott, who trains Knightsbridge for Godolphin Racing, said, “I wasn’t under the gun to make the Kentucky Derby.”

Mott said he wasn’t surprised that Knightsbridge won on debut, but he was in the manner in which it was accomplished. Racing between horses down the backstretch, Knightsbridge was checked hard by James Graham, regathered himself, advanced three wide and made the front outside the quarter pole. While he did drift down to the rail in the stretch, Knightsbridge kept running away from the field.

“You rarely see a horse draw off quite that easily or by that much,” Mott said. “It was visually pretty impressive and the speed figures were pretty good.”

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Horses who finished behind Knightsbridge are a combined 1 or 12 since that race. Give Me a Reason, runner-up to Knightsbridge, won a maiden-special at Oaklawn on Feb. 24 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Mott has put in a series of works into Knightsbridge at Payson Park, including a three-furlong move out of the gate in 36.60 seconds last Saturday.

Knightsbridge is a half-brother to Speaker’s Corner, who won three graded stakes around one turn, including the Grade 1 Carter in 2022. Mott said should Knightsbridge run well Thursday, he would like to run him in the Grade 2, $600,000 Pat Day Mile at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

Junior Alvarado will ride Knightsbridge Thursday from the outside post in this six-horse field.

Sea Streak and Cardinale look like the two major threats to Knightsbridge.

Sea Streak returns to a one-turn mile race, the distance of the Mucho Macho Man where he ran third, beaten just three-quarters of a length. Most recently, Sea Streak finished last of seven in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at 1 1/16 miles. Jose Ortiz rides for Eddie Owens.

Cardinale, a son of Speightstown, drops in class and distance after finishing 11th of 12 in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17. In two starts at Gulfstream, Cardinale has a maiden win going six furlongs and a nose loss to Change of Command in a first-level allowance around two turns.

Cardinale is trained by Todd Pletcher, who also sends out Turn Up the Trees, a debut winner on dirt first out on Jan. 19 before running seventh in a turf allowance. Pletcher is adding blinkers for this spot.

Smart Almasty and Speed Control complete the field.

Just F Y I to Ashland

Just F Y I, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2023 who was scratched from the Grade 2 Davona Dale on March 2 due to a fever, is targeting a return in the Grade 1, $600,000 Ashland Stakes on April 5, Mott said.

Mott had been hoping to run Just F Y I in Saturday’s Grade 3, $750,000 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park, but said he needed the extra week. Since the scratch, Just F Y I has worked just once, a half-mile in 47.20 seconds at Payson Park on March 18.

“I would have definitely considered the Fantasy. It’s a nice race and I think she would have looked awfully good in there,” Mott said. “I felt like I needed to get another decent work in her without squeezing it in and ship and all.”

By running in the Ashland, it means Just F Y I will meet Jody’s Pride, the filly she beat by a neck in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, a victory that sealed a 3-for-3 campaign and clinched a divisional championship.

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