Silver Knott likes the distance, takes Elkhorn Stakes

Trainer Charlie Appleby felt confident Silver Knott had the pedigree and running style to race effectively in his first start over 1 1/2 miles. He was right, as Silver Knott won the Grade 2, $350,000 Elkhorn Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.

But nothing went right for the Appleby-trained 1-2 favorite, Bold Act, who checked in third after a tough trip, much of it due to his own unprofessional comportment during the early and middle stakes of the contest.

Both Godolphin 4-year-olds were making their second start over the Keeneland turf course: Silver Knott had been second by a nose in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, a one-mile contest, while Bold Act beat older rivals last fall going 1 1/2 miles in the Sycamore Stakes. Silver Knott made five of his six 2023 starts in America and lost them all, racing Saturday for the first time since his third-place finish in the Hollywood Derby. Bold Act started once in Dubai this past winter and was a sharp, smooth winner of the 1 1/2-mile Dubai City of Gold, a moderate Group 2.

Bold Act, with Frankie Dettori riding, came to the Elkhorn looking like a considerably better chance than Silver Knott, which was reflected in the betting, Silver Knott nearly 6-1, Bold Act a tick over 1-2. But things went amiss early for Bold Act. Taking a ground-saving position around the first of three turns, Bold Act got lit up behind a sluggish pace, pulling and pulling for his head, Dettori stoutly restraining the colt. Refusing to relax, Bold Act sapped the energy that would be required to kick home.

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Meanwhile, Silver Knott and Flavien Prat sailed along in the clear, tracking from second the pace of 97-1 shot Wentru. As the tempo slowed to a crawl through the third quarter-mile, several horses made early backstretch moves, quickening the pace going into the third turn. Silver Knott and Prat responded to outside pressure by taking the lead around the bend, cornering smartly into the homestretch and opening a two-length lead at the stretch call that diminished to 1 1/2 at the finish.

Bold Act, meanwhile, cruised up the inside to take a contending position into the last turn but found no room along the fence past the quarter pole, and by the time he switched outside, slipping between rivals to make his run, Silver Knott was gone.

Missed the Cut, a California invader who turned in a solid performance, held for second, a neck in front of Bold Act. Silver Knott ($13.52) was timed in 2:27.37 over a firm course.

Silver Knott is by Lope de Vega out of God Given, by Nathaniel. God Given earned nearly a half-million during her racing career, starting mainly in European races at or about 1 1/2 miles. She passed that stamina along to her son, Silver Knott - just as his trainer suspected.

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