Godolphin’s Silver Knott continued his rich vein of form in Sunday’s $242,500 Bowling Green (G2) at Saratoga, racking up his third consecutive win since stepping up to longer distances. But the manner of his victory was especially meritorious; the Charlie Appleby trainee broke the course record in gate-to-wire fashion.
Silver Knott, who stalked in the April 20 Elkhorn (G2) at Keeneland and rolled from just off the pace in the May 11 Man o’ War (G2) at Aqueduct, changed tactics here in light of two key scratches. After projected pace factors Strong Quality and Sugoi were both withdrawn, Silver Knott’s rider, Flavien Prat, opted to let him control his own destiny.
The 2-5 favorite broke on top and never relinquished his advantage, although he didn’t exactly have things his own way. Ohana Honor moved up to press Silver Knott through an opening quarter in :24.45, and kept goading him through fractions of :47.98, 1:12.98, and 1:36.45 on the firm course. By that point, Ohana Honor could no longer maintain the relentless gallop, and he faded. Then Strong Tide tried to challenge on the final turn, only to find that Silver Knott had still more left.
Accelerating his next quarter in :22.94 to reach the 1 1/4-mile mark in 1:59.39, Silver Knott powered away from Strong Tide and the rail-skimming Soldier Rising in the stretch. The son of Lope de Vega threw in a final furlong in :11.64 to widen his margin to 2 1/2 lengths at the wire.
Silver Knott established a new record time of 2:11.03 for 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf. The previous mark of 2:11.46 had stood since Sept. 5, 2015, when White Rose rallied off a hot pace in the Glens Falls (G3). Silver Knott’s performance was better, considering that he set the pace and carried more weight (124 pounds compared to White Rose’s 118-pound impost). Further upgrading his performance, Silver Knott was likewise spotting six pounds to his Bowling Green rivals.
“There was not much pace in the race,” Prat said of the scratch-reduced field. “I thought he was the best horse. I didn’t want to get trapped and have it turn into a turf sprint.
“I thought I was going to get an easy lead, but I got pressure during the race, but he was comfortable on the lead, and he responded when I asked him to make a run.”
Appleby’s assistant, Alex Merriam, also observed that Silver Knott was traveling well within himself.
“He got pestered on the lead there, so he went quick enough – course record. So it shows it was a pretty good performance really on the front end.” Merriam said. “Back in England, we’re not big on the clock back home, so it’s a bit different, but he looked to be comfortable in himself. Flavien seemed to have plenty in hand, so I was always pretty confident.”
Soldier Rising, who had not raced since November, took second in a fine comeback effort. Strong Tide yielded by just a neck in third, while Ohana Honor checked in another 3 1/2 lengths astern in fourth. English Conqueror trailed throughout.
Silver Knott has now achieved millionaire status with earnings of $1,010,771 from a record of 15-6-2-0. As a Tattersalls October yearling, the bay commanded 725,000 guineas, a shade more than $1 million.
Bred by St. Albans Bloodstock in Great Britain, Silver Knott is out of the Group 1-winning Nathaniel mare God Given, who stayed about 1 3/4 miles when capturing the 2018 Park Hill (G2). God Given is a half-sister to multiple highweight Postponed, hero of such major 1 1/2-mile events as the 2015 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1) and 2016 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) and Coronation Cup (G1).
Silver Knott was a talented juvenile who signaled that he’d likely require longer trips with maturity. After capturing the Solario (G3) and Autumn (G3), he just missed by a whisker in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Given a chance in Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas (G1) the following spring, Silver Knott wound up 11th, and he’s plied his trade stateside ever since.
During the remainder of his sophomore campaign in 2023, Silver Knott often settled for minor awards. A gelding operation after his placings in the Pennine Ridge (G2) and Secretariat (G2) didn’t change the tendency, and he concluded the season with placings in the Twilight Derby (G2) and Hollywood Derby (G1).
Once Silver Knott stretched out for the 1 1/2-mile Elkhorn, however, he found his true calling. The Man o’ War’s 1 3/8 miles likewise suited him well, and he reiterated the point on Sunday.
Merriam indicated that Silver Knott probably wouldn’t advance to the Aug. 24 Sword Dancer (G1) on Travers Day, with stablemate Measured Time designated for that “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Instead, Silver Knott could await the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) in September at Aqueduct.
“Maybe we’ll look at the Joe Hirsch,” Merriam said. “We’ll see how he comes out of it.”
