And now gamblers have to fear the “other” Appleby.
That a Charlie Appleby-trained runner won the $400,000 Man o’ War Stakes (G2T) was hardly a jolt to the senses.
The surprise was that the winner was not the Godolphin color-bearer who was heavily favored on the tote board.
Instead, as the odds-on choice Nations Pride faded to third in the stretch, it was Appleby’s “other” entrant, 4-1 shot Silver Knott , who took charge in the stretch and rolled to a 4 1/2-length victory in the May 11 turf stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.
“He’s done nothing but improve, so fingers crossed he keeps going that way,” said Alex Merriam, an assistant for Appleby, after the mile-and-three-eighths stakes for older horses.
While he started his career in Europe, Silver Knott has been a frequent visitor to the United States, making his last six starts at American racetracks in either grade 1 or 2 stakes.
Gelded heading into this year, he has blossomed at 4 for Godolphin. The million-dollar yearling started the year with a win in the April 20 1 1/2-mile Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland, ending a string of seven straight losses. After vanning from Kentucky to New York, the son of Lope de Vega , who was second by a nose in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), made it two wins in a row in grade 2 company at distances of 11 furlongs or longer.
“Looking at the pedigree, he’s a horse who wants to go farther,” Merriam said.
Nations Pride was sent off the 4-5 choice with a résumé that featured a trio of grade/group 1 wins, including a victory in last year’s Canadian International Stakes (G1T).
Unraced since November, the son of Teofilo tracked the pace-setting 43-1 shot So High from second under Frankie Dettori through fractions of :48.09 and 1:13.48. He moved to the front turning for home, but weakened in the final furlong.
“He had a great trip. He had a layoff and just needed this race to sharp him up. He ran superb but the last eighth of a mile I didn’t have that kick,” Dettori said.
West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, Edward Hudson Jr., and Lynne Hudson’s Ohana Honor closed quickly to take second. The 4-year-old son of Honor Code trained by Shug McGaughey finished a neck in front of the homebred Nations Pride.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Silver Knott ($10.20) was timed in 2:13.80 over “good” turf.
Merriam said both Godolphin runners would head to Saratoga Race Course while Appleby plots out their next starts.
Bred by St Albans Bloodstock, Silver Knott sold for the equivalent of $1,035,915 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (Book 1). It was the fifth win in 14 starts for the son of the group 1-winning Nathaniel mare God Given and lifted his earnings to $873,276.