Silver Knott keeps on winning, takes Bowling Green Stakes
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Silver Knott and Flavien Prat continued their streaking ways Sunday at Saratoga with Prat guiding Silver Knott to a front-running, 2 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2, $242,500 Bowling Green Stakes.
For Silver Knott, it was his third win in as many starts in this year, all since being stretched out to a marathon distance. For Prat, it was his third win on Sunday’s card, the fourth time in the first 14 days of the Saratoga meet that Prat has won at least three races. On July 21, he won four. For the meet, Prat has 19 wins - including seven stakes victories - from 79 mounts and leads the standings by one over Irad Ortiz Jr.
“I’m obviously very grateful for the opportunity that I get, I’m riding great horses for very good connections,” Prat said.
For Charlie Appleby, the trainer of Silver Knott, Prat has ridden six winners from eight mounts this year in the U.S. Sunday was the third time this year Prat rode Silver Knott to victory, having previously won the Elkhorn at Keeneland and the Man o’ War, Grade 2 stakes at Keeneland and Aqueduct.
The scratches of Sugoi and Strong Quality took the speed out of the Bowling Green, a 1 3/8-miles turf race.
Prat wanted the lead and he sent Silver Knott to the front through a quarter in 24.45 seconds, 47.98 for the half and 1:36.45 for the mile while being stalked intently by Ohana Honor. When Ohana Honor gave way at the three-eighths pole, Strong Tide picked up the chase.
Turning for home, Prat shook the reins at Silver Knott ($2.80) , who began to spurt away. Soldier Rising outfinished Strong Tide to get second by a neck - his sixth second from his last seven starts and 11th from 22 overall.
“There was not much pace in the race, I thought he was the best horse, I didn’t want to get trapped in a slow race and have it turn into a sprint,” Prat said.
Silver Knott, a 4-year-old gelding by Lope de Vega, covered the 1 3/8 miles in 2:11.03, eclipsing the inner turf course record of 2:11.46 set by White Rose in 2015. He was given a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.
“Flavien said he was keen to go forward,” said Alex Merriam, assistant to Appleby. “It looked like he was going to get it easy enough, but he got pestered on the lead. He went quick enough, a course record, so it shows it was a pretty good performance on the front end.”
The Bowling Green is traditionally the local prep for the Grade 1 Sword Dancer on Aug. 24. Appleby and Godolphin have Grade 1 Manhattan winner Measured Time for that race. Silver Knott will be kept eligible as well, but most likely will point to the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct in either late September or early October.
Soldier Rising was making his first start since a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Red Smith last November. He was a bit closer to the pace than usual under Jose Ortiz, but still finished in his customary spot on the podium.
“It’s his first race from a long time, it was a strangely run race, he ran very well,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “Let’s see how he comes out and we’ll go to the Sword Dancer.”
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