Nations Pride, Silver Knott give Appleby a strong pair in Man o' War

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Charlie Appleby has a rare losing streak in North America.

Appleby, among Europe’s premier trainers, went a combined 0 for 4 in stakes at Churchill and Aqueduct last weekend, finishing a painfully close second with Naval Power in the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

Appleby, who has enjoyed fantastic success in North America in recent years, stands a good chance to return to the winner’s circle Saturday, when he sends out the dynamic duo of Nations Pride and Silver Knott in the Grade 2, $400,000 Man o’ War Stakes at Aqueduct. The Man o’ War, no longer deemed a Grade 1 by the North American Graded Stakes Committee, is the richest of four stakes on an 11-race Aqueduct card that begins at 12:35 p.m.

Nations Pride and Silver Knott are already graded winners in North America. Nations Pride won the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby and Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby in 2022 and the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine last fall. He also is a Group 1 winner in Germany.

Nations Pride has not run since a seventh-place finish the Bahrain International Trophy on Nov. 17. Alex Merriam, an assistant to Appleby, said Nations Pride “had a little issue after Bahrain” necessitating time off. It was always Appleby’s intention to return him to the United States, Merriam said.

“He had some good form here, seems to be suited by the style of running around here, so that’s why Charlie thought it would be a good idea to bring him back again,” Merriam said Thursday.

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Nations Pride also seems to enjoy firm ground, but Merriam said he’s not concerned about forecasted rain that could make for less than firm footing on Saturday.

“He’d want quicker ground; I don’t think the track will be a problem for him,” Merriam said. “I know there’s a bit of rain forecast, but I don’t think it’ll inconvenience him too much.”

Frankie Dettori will ride Nations Pride from post 9.

Silver Knott had been stakes-placed in four of his first five starts in the United States before breaking through with a front-running victory in the Grade 2 Elkhorn on April 20 at Keeneland, his first start of the year. Prior to that, Silver Knott ran third behind Program Trading in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. Program Trading won last weekend’s Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill.

Though Silver Knott found himself on the lead in the Elkhorn, Merriam said he’s not sure that’s where he’ll be on Saturday under Flavien Prat.

“He got it quite easy on the front end last time. I think there’s probably a bit more pace on in this race,” Merriam said. “He doesn’t need to go forward, a strong pace will suit him anyway.”

Naipaul Chatterpaul entered two horses that like to run on the lead in So High and Rocket and Roll. So High ran off to a 12-plus-length lead and held on for third in last year’s Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. Rocket and Roll was just claimed for $20,000.

Trainer Christophe Clement sends out the pair of Kertez and Tawny Port, who finished first and third, respectively, in the Grade 2 Pan American on March 30 at Gulfstream Park.

Kertez was making his first start in the United States and had a bit of an adventurous trip under Joel Rosario while just beating fellow Man o’ War entrant Harry Hood by a nose.

“He was a bit fresh, a bit rank. He’s a bit more settled,” Clement said. “Joel is riding him again, so hopefully he can get him to settle. He trained well, he’s always trained well.”

Tawny Port was beaten a neck by Kertez in the Pan American, and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. got off the horse and apologized to Clement for getting the horse stuck on the inside.

“Irad thought he was a bit lucky on the inside,” Clement said.

Ortiz is back aboard Tawny Port, who breaks from post 5.

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Harry Hood’s performance in the Pan American was his best performance to date for trainer Mark Hennig.

Ohana Honor successfully stretched out to 1 1/2 miles, winning a second-level allowance at Keeneland for trainer Shug McGaughey on April 14.

Greek Order stretches out to 1 1/2 miles after finishing sixth in a Keeneland allowance going a mile in his first start in the United States and first for Bill Mott.

The Man o’ War is carded as race 7 (3:39 p.m.) on the 11-race program.

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